The following article by Max Greenwood was posted on the Hill website December 22, 2017:
A singer and longtime supporter of President Trump has accused his former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski of inappropriately touching her at a holiday party at Trump International Hotel in Washington.
Politico reported Friday that Lewandowski slapped Joy Villa’s behind after a photo opportunity last month during an event at Trump’s namesake D.C. hotel.
“I’m wearing this silver suit and stretchy pants, and after the photo, he smacks my ass really hard,” Villa told Politico. “It was completely demeaning and shocking.”
Villa said she warned Lewandowski that she could report him for sexual harassment.
“He said, ‘Go ahead, I work in the private sector,’ ” Villa, who is exploring a congressional run in Florida, told Politico.
Villa said that she hesitated to go public with the allegations against Lewandowski in part because she worried about retaliation given the former Trump campaign manager’s prominence and connections in the president’s circles.
“I did feel that Corey could badmouth me,” Villa said. “I thought, ‘What if this messes up my chances.’ He has power and influence, and he’s close with the president, who just tweeted about his book. I wanted to play it safe and avoid the drama.”
Politico said that Lewandowski did not respond to multiple requests for comment on Friday.
The allegations against Lewandowski come as multiple prominent men in politics, entertainment, business and media have had their careers derailed by allegations of sexual misconduct.
Lewandowski was charged last year with simple battery after a female Breitbart reporter accused him of violently grabbing her arm during a Trump campaign rally. Those charges were eventually dropped by authorities in Florida.