Stacey Williamsa former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, has publicly accused Donald Trump of groping her in the early 1990s, a claim she said was an attempt to impress the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. In her interview with CNN, Williams provided detailed accounts of the alleged encounter, which took place when she was in her 20s and briefly dated Epstein.
Williams, now 56, said that in 1993, Epstein took her to Trump Tower in New York City, where they met Trump outside his office: “As soon as he was in front of me, he pulled me close to him and his hands were just on me and didn’t come off,” she described. She claimed Trump’s hands moved over her body while he and Epstein were talking, leaving her in shock. “It was one of the strangest moments of my life,” she added, noting that she felt “frozen” and unable to respond.
After the encounter, Williams claimed she received a postcard from Trump with a picture of his Mar-a-Lago resort and a handwritten note that read, “Stacey, your home away from home.” All the best, Donald.” The Trump campaign has vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as “completely false” and claiming they are politically motivated, particularly given their timing before the upcoming election.
In a statement, Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt called the allegations part of a smear campaign and linked them to support for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. However, Williams insists that her decision to speak out was influenced not by the election, but rather by her involvement in a recent Sports Illustrated documentary about the swimsuit issue.
Williams’ allegations follow a long history of women accusing Trump of inappropriate behavior. Since announcing his candidacy in 2015, over 20 women have come forward, all of which Trump has categorically denied. In particular, his ties to Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes and died in prison in 2019, have been the subject of investigation. Trump once described Epstein as a “great guy” before trying to distance himself.
During the CNN interview, Williams reflected on the emotional toll of the incident, saying, “I felt a wave of shame… it was coordinated, some sort of twisted game.” She revealed that Epstein had punished her for telling Trump her touched, which increased the feeling of being manipulated.
Williams had previously kept her experience secret and only spoke about it years later with close friends. Following the #MeToo movement, she began looking for ways to share her story, eventually addressing the allegations in the documentary and on a recent Zoom call with Survivors for Kamala.
As the election approaches, Williams hopes her story will encourage others to reconsider their support for Trump. “The thought of this monster being back in the White House is my absolute worst nightmare,” she concluded, emphasizing the need for accountability regarding the allegations sexual misconduct.