Ivana Trump Releases Rape Statement: ‘The Story Is Totally Without Merit’

Ivana Trump has been caught up in the news today after a story was published by the Daily Beast which stirred up an old claim that Donald Trump had sexually assault Ivana while they were married. That troublesome accusation took on a whole new level of PR disaster when it was revealed that Michael Cohen, special counsel at The Trump Organization, had responded by saying that it was impossible to rape your spouse by the “very definition” of marriage.

That response seems even more inopportune now in the face of a new statement released by Ivana herself. Trump’s former spouse has denied that any sexual assault ever occurred during her marriage to Trump, reported CNN.

“I have recently read some comments attributed to me from nearly 30 years ago at a time of very high tension during my divorce from Donald. The story is totally without merit. Donald and I are the best of friends and together have raised three children that we love and are very proud of. I have nothing but fondness for Donald and wish him the best of luck on his campaign. Incidentally, I think he would make an incredible president.”

Despite Ivana’s response, Trump will now have to fight off a slew of other negative press that he’s racked up for the response of special counsel Cohen. In the original Daily Beast story, he clearly stated that it was impossible to rape your spouse.

“You’re talking about the frontrunner for the GOP, presidential candidate, as well as a private individual who never raped anybody. And, of course, understand that by the very definition, you can’t rape your spouse… It is true. You cannot rape your spouse. And there’s very clear case law.”

Quoted in the same CNN article with Ivana’s statement about the rape allegations, Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said that Donald was not in agreement with Cohen’s statement. Non-consensual sex is, of course, illegal in all 50 states, whether or not the perpetrator is married to the victim.

When Lost Tycoon, the book with Ivana’s original story, was published, it also came with a preceding statement diminishing the rape-like nature of the questionable sexual encounter. More than 20 years later, it’s strange to see the former Mrs. Trump repeating something so similar in her newest words on the case.

“During a deposition given by me in connection with my matrimonial case, I stated that my husband had raped me. [O]n one occasion during 1989, Mr. Trump and I had marital relations in which he behaved very differently toward me than he had during our marriage. As a woman, I felt violated, as the love and tenderness, which he normally exhibited towards me, was absent. I referred to this as a ‘rape,’ but I do not want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense.”

Do you think Ivana Trump’s statement clears up the rape allegations?

[Image via Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images]