A New York state judge on Tuesday said U.S. President Donald Trump must face a defamation lawsuit by a woman who accused him of sexually harassing her after she appeared on his former reality TV show.

The decision by Justice Jennifer Schecter of the New York state court in Manhattan in favor of California restaurateur Summer Zervos, a former contestant on NBC's "The Apprentice," raises the prospect that Trump might have to answer embarrassing questions in court about his behavior toward women.

She rejected Trump's claim that he was immune from being sued, finding "absolutely no authority" to dismiss litigation related "purely to unofficial conduct" solely because he occupied the White House.

"No one is above the law," the judge wrote.

A White House representative was not immediately available for comment on the ruling.

Mariann Wang, one of Zervos' lawyers, said in a statement: "We are grateful for the opportunity to prove that that defendant falsely branded Ms. Zervos a phony for telling the truth about his unwanted sexual groping."

Trump has been accused by several women of misconduct, including after the release during the 2016 presidential campaign of an "Access Hollywood" recording in which he had spoken in vulgar terms about trying to have sex with women.


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