6 witnesses corroborate reporter Natasha Stoynoff's assault claim against Donald Trump
Six witnesses came forward Tuesday to back up former People reporter Natasha Stoynoff's accusation that Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in 2005 — the most robust corroboration of Trump's alleged attacks on women to date.
Stoynoff is one of 11 women who has publicly accused Trump of kissing or groping them without consent — a news story that's exacerbated Trump's major slide in the polls, likely putting the White House out of reach for the bombastic businessman.
Stoynoff — who covered Trump for People — came forward last week to say that Trump pushed her against a wall and kissed her without consent while she was reporting on a story about Trump's one-year anniversary with his wife, Melania.
Stoynoff added that after the assault, Stoynoff ran into Melania on 5th Avenue in New York. During the chance encounter, Melania reportedly asked Stoynoff why she was no longer reporting on Trump.
Trump has denied Stoynoff's accusation, going as far as calling her too unattractive for him to have assaulted.
Melania has also denied Stoynoff's story, telling CNN's Anderson Cooper in an interview Monday that she never ran into Stoynoff on the street.
But included in the six witnesses who came forward is Liza Herz, a friend of Stoynoff who said she was with Stoynoff when she ran into Melania on the street.
"They chatted in a friendly way," Herz said in a People article that published the accounts of six people who back up Stoynoff's story. "And what struck me most was that Melania was carrying a child and wearing heels."
Also included in the list of witnesses is Stoynoff's mentor and former journalism professor, who Stoynoff reached out to for advice after Trump's alleged assault.
The professor, Paul McLaughlin, said Stoynoff called him in tears to seek his advice after the incident, and he advised her not to come forward.
"She wasn't sure what she should do," McLaughlin told People. "I advised her not to say anything, because I believed Trump would deny it and try to destroy her."
The entire list of witnesses backing up Stoynoff's account can be found here.