20231202

Trump Golf Club Tricked Server Into Signing Sex Abuse Settlement, Lawsuit Says

Donald Trump’s country club in Bedminster, New Jersey, was sued by an ex-server who claims one of the former president’s top lawyers tricked her into accepting a “paltry” settlement with an illegal nondisclosure provision after she accused her manager of sexual assault.

Alice Bianco alleges the abuse started with a forced kiss by her boss shortly after she began working at the Trump National Golf Club in May 2021. She claims it quickly escalated into a quid pro quo sexual relationship required for job “protection,” according to her lawsuit, filed Thursday in state court.

Alleging discrimination and fraud, Bianco is asking the court to void the settlement and bar the golf club from trying to enforce it. If she succeeds, she could file a suit over the alleged acts that seeks more money, and she wouldn’t be exposed to legal action for publicly discussing her claims. She is also seeking disciplinary action against the lawyer, Alina Habba.

Neither Habba nor Trump is named as a defendant in the complaint, which doesn’t accuse Trump of wrongdoing. But it comes as the former president faces multiple trials amid his campaign to return to the White House, and it alleges misconduct by Habba in the midst of her defense of Trump in New York state’s civil fraud trial now underway in Manhattan.

Habba allegedly pretended to befriend Bianco and then manipulated her into ignoring her new employment lawyer before any claims were filed. Bianco says Habba then tricked her into signing what she now calls a “fraudulently induced” settlement. The complaint doesn’t say how much money she received through the settlement, but a text message between her and Habba attached to the suit suggests she ended up with $15,000.

The text messages show that Bianco was grateful to Habba at the time. In one exchange Habba thanks her for gifts she sent about a week after the settlement was signed in August 2021.

“You really are the best!” Bianco responds. “Friends forever.”

The manager who allegedly assaulted Bianco was fired by the club over his behavior, according to a person familiar with the matter, who declined to be identified discussing nonpublic information.

Habba, an outspoken Trump supporter who argues he is the victim of a partisan smear campaign, has had legal troubles stemming from her work for him before. In January, a federal judge ordered Trump and Habba to pay almost $1 million in legal fees and costs to Hillary Clinton and others for filing a “frivolous” suit accusing them of a vast conspiracy to damage Trump’s reputation. The judge said “no reasonable lawyer” should have filed such a complaint.

EK: Digging up some old stuffs nearing the election… Let the mud fight begin.

China’s A-List Flock to Hong Kong for Louis Vuitton’s First Show

Some of China’s most popular celebrities and K-drama stars gathered at Louis Vuitton’s first ever fashion show in Hong Kong, as the luxury brand seeks to boost business in the region.

Designer Pharrell Williams unveiled his pre-fall 2024 men’s collection to about 1,200 guests, including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon star Chow Yun-fat and popular Korean actor, and brand ambassador, Song Joong-ki. In a nod to the region’s big-spending younger customers, Generation Z favorites like Chinese boy band Teens In Times and K-pop performer Felix also attended.

The firm has been at the forefront of shifting more resources into mainland China in order to capture the post-Covid shift by wealthy Chinese to buying more of their luxury goods domestically instead of taking expensive trips abroad. Its DFS Group is set to build a major shopping and entertainment complex on the tax-free island of Hainan, and LVMH is considering an overhaul of the China operations of its Sephora unit.

In particular, mainland Chinese — who account for about 80% of total inbound travelers and are a core pillar of the city’s retail landscape — have been slow to return and, when they do, are opting for more low-key or experience-focused activities. LVMH itself is shifting resources out of the financial hub in order to focus more of its investment in burgeoning metropolises across the border.

Despite the headwinds, Hong Kong remains an important gateway to mainland China and the Louis Vuitton show may help revive interest in the city as a luxury destination. It’s already proved popular in China, where a hashtag for the event was the top trending topic on Weibo. And local fans who couldn’t snag an invite tried to steal a glimpse from dozens of boats on the harbor.

EK: Welcome back to Korea, Mainland shoppers. Who is Felix by the way??