Donald Trump – Former Campaign Staffer Sues President For Inappropriately Kissing Her In 2016, White House Responds

Donald Trump, Alva Jonson

Donald Trump – Former Campaign Staffer Sues President For Inappropriately Kissing Her In 2016, White House Responds

Alva Johnson is the first woman to come forward during Donal Trump‘s presidency, accusing him of inappropriately kissing her during his campaign in 2016. Johnson filed a federal lawsuit in Florida on Monday, detailing the accusations while also alleging she was exposed to discrimination by the campaign after receiving a lesser pay-grade than her white male counterpart(s).

Donald Trump

Before Johnson, who is a black woman, met Trump in November 2015 at a rally, she was introduced to Trump by way of her stepfather, Jacob Savage. She was encouraged to join his campaign because she thought he would be able to utilize  his business experience to help struggling black communities.With no prior political experience, Johnson joined the campaign as a director of outreach and coalitions in Alabama.

In the final three months leading up to the election, Johnson claimed in her suit, she was reassigned to Florida, which is where she was inapporiately kissed by Trump. While there, she was designated to managing recreational vehicles which lobbied throughout the state as mobile campaign offices. Trump was meeting with volunteers on an RV, and as he was leaving, he was attempting to make eye contact with Johnson. He was finally able to be face to face with Johnson, thanked her for work, and leaned in for a kiss.

Alva Johnson

In an interview, Johnson recalls the experience:

Oh, my God, I think he’s going to kiss me. He’s coming straight for my lips. So I turn my head, and he kisses me right on corner of my mouth, still holding my hand the entire time. Then he walks on out.

In a statement, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the accusations are:

absurd on its face. This never happened and is directly contradicted by multiple highly credible eye witness accounts.

Johnson states she told her mother, stepfather, and boyfriend about the alleged kiss. Campaign spokeswoman, Kayleigh McEnany, denied claims Johnson stating she was paid lesser than her male counterparts, claim as:

off-base and unfounded.

Since allegeadly being kissed, Johnson explained how she’s been trying to move on.

I’ve tried to let it go. You want to move on with your life. I don’t sleep. I wake up at 4 in the morning looking at the news. I feel guilty. The only thing I did was show up for work one day.

Johnson is seeking unspecified damages for emotional pain and suffering.