Trump-Omarosa row: Former White House aide says she 'will not be bullied' by president after 'dog' tweet and legal action
President also called Omarosa Manigault Newman a 'lowlife'
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Former White House aide Omarosa Manigault-Newman has said that she “will not be silenced” or “bullied” by Donald Trump after his campaign starting legal action alleging breach of a secrecy agreement amid a spat over a new book.
Mr Trump earlier called Ms Manigault-Newman a “dog” and a “lowlife” over the explosive new book, Unhinged, which makes several unflattering allegations against the president
“Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. has filed an arbitration against Omarosa Manigault-Newman, with the American Arbitration Association in New York City, for breach of her 2016 confidentiality agreement with the Trump Campaign,” a Trump campaign official said in a statement.
Ms Manigault-Newman has made numerous television appearances and given a number of interviews in recent days promoting her book in which she reveals private conversations during her time on the campaign and in the White House. She has also released several audio recordings of conversations she had with Mr Trump and campaign aides.
On Tuesday evening, the former aide said that she would not be “intimidated” by the legal action from Mr Trump’s campaign.
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Ms Manigault-Newman said she believes the action was intended to keep her from telling her story. “I’m not going to be bullied by Donald Trump,” she told the Associated Press
During an earlier appearance, Ms Manigault-Newman told MSNBC that she had been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, which is investigating Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election and has been a regular target for Mr Trump.
“I have,” Ms Manigault-Newman said when asked if she had spoken to Mr Mueller’s team, which is considering potential ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia.
Mr Trump himself has indicated Ms Manigault-Newman had signed a non-disclosure agreement that now appears to be a point of contention between the two sides, tweeting on Monday about the supposed document.
“Wacky Omarosa already has a fully signed Non-Disclosure Agreement!” Mr Trump tweeted.
Since the start of Ms Manigault-Newman’s press tour, Mr Trump has repeatedly vented his frustration over the disclosures made in the new book, and has called his former White House aide a “crazed, crying lowlife” and a “dog”.
“When you give a crazed, crying lowlife a break, and give her a job at the White House, I guess it just didn’t work out,” Mr Trump tweeted on Tuesday. “Good work by General Kelly for quickly firing that dog!”
Perhaps a hint to the tone of the book and Ms Manigault-Newman's feelings about Mr Trump and the White House senior staff comes from her Twitter account. A 9 August tweet included an image of the book cover as well as a proverb: "Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter".
Ms Pierson and Ms Patton issued a statement regarding their initial denial about discussing Mr trump's alleged use of the n-word and the teleconference recording, Ms Manigault-Newman subsequently released.
In it they stated "no one ever denied the existence of conversations about a reporter The Apprentice tape" and said the group discussed it at length because "Omarosa was obsessed with it".
Neither Ms Pearson, Ms Patton, or anyone associated with The Apprentice has released the tape in question to confirm or refute the president's alleged use of the n-word or other racial slurs.
Part of Ms Manigault-Newman's book also makes claims about Mr Trump's supposed failing mental health.
In addition to accusing the president of making derogatory statements regarding African-Americans, Filipinos, and other minorities, she said he exhibited frequent "forgetfulness and frustration".
"His mental decline could not be denied," she wrote in the book.
Upon learning Ivanka Trump would be appointed as a senior White House adviser, Ms Manigault-Newman did not have the same concerns of nepotism as others did. Instead she felt relief, she wrote.
She stated in the book: “I made a note to set up a meeting to share with [Ivanka] my concerns about her father’s forgetfulness and strange behavior. I would often say, ‘He needs you. I’m glad you’re here.'"
Another quote from Ms Manigault-Newman's book:
“I seriously began to suspect that the president was delusional or had a mental condition, that made him forget from one day to the next. Was Donald like Ronald Reagan, impaired while everyone around him ran the show and covered up for him? Was Mike Pence his Nancy Reagan, with the same vapid, adoring looks?"
She had written at length about Mr Trump becoming "fixated" on repeating stories for weeks on end, having "episode[s]" of anger and strange behaviour as well.
Ms Manigault-Newman just spoke to MSNBC and said she had spoken to special counsel Robert Mueller, who leads the FBI investigation into alleged collusion between Mr Trump's 2016 campaign team and Russian officials.
She said "there was a lot of corruption" in the campaign and later in the administration, but did not specify what that entailed.
She also said on MSNBC she does not think she violated the non-disclosure agreement she signed with the 2016 Trump campaign.
Ms Manigault-Newman had claimed the Trump campaign had offered her a position on the 2020 campaign once she was ousted from her position as a White House aide. She also noted it reportedly paid $15,000 a month but required her to sign a new secrecy agreement. She declined the offer.
Omarosa Manigault Newman says she has been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller's team investigating Russian election interference.
The former aide to President Donald Trump didn't say when she was interviewed and declined to provide any other details.
Appearing on MSNBC, Manigault-Newman also declined to say whether she's been called to sit before a grand jury.
She said: "I feel like my hands are tied because as you know I do love to communicate about the things that are going on in my life, but unfortunately I can't elaborate."
When asked if she has secretly taped audio recordings that would be of interest to Mueller, Ms Manigault-Newman said: "If he calls me, I certainly will participate with anything that he needs."
↵White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders has had her say on Ms Manigault-Newman during a press briefing:
On more from Ms Sanders on those allegations from Ms Manigault-Newman about Mr Trump using the word n*****.
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