Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump denied the accusations of sexual abuse made against him by several women and called it a conspiracy hatched by his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and the press.
The billionaire on Thursday said that the complaints are a "coordinated, vicious attack" by the "establishment," namely the Clintons and the "corrupt" press who see him as an "existential threat," Efe news reported.
Several women have come forward to allege that Trump sexually assaulted them in various incidents from the 1980s through 2005, adding to the political scandal sparked last Friday with the release of a 2005 videotape.
In the tape, Trump can be heard making lewd and sexist comments about women and bragging about molesting or kissing them against their will.
During a campaign rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said that the complaints are "totally and absolutely false," adding that they are "pure fiction and outright lies".
He called both former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary "criminals" and he said the US government is a "cartel," adding that he has substantial evidence, along with witnesses, that will prove that the accusations of sexual abuse were "fabricated".
More From This Section
He reiterated that he will file a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, one of the media outlets that published the stories of women claiming Trump abused them based on interviews with the alleged victims.
Jessica Leeds and Rachel Crooks talked with the Times and complained that Trump had touched and/or kissed them inappropriately in the 1980s and in 2005, respectively.
During the second presidential debate with Democratic rival Hillary Clinton on Sunday, Trump had denied ever sexually assaulting any women.
However, Trump had bragged on the 2005 videotape: "I just start kissing them. ... It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait."
--IANS
pgh/