Trump-Omarosa row: Former White House aide says she 'will not be bullied' by president after 'dog' tweet and legal action

Mythili Sampathkumar, Clark Mindock
Updated

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

The arbitration was filed with the America Arbitration Association in New York, and claims Ms Manigault-Newman’s book and media tour breached her 2016 confidentiality agreement with the campaign.

“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!”