Corey Lewandowski, Ex-Trump Aide, Accused Of Sex Assault

WASHINGTON, DC — Joy Villa, a possible Florida congressional candidate and singer who made headlines for donning a "Make America Great Again" dress at the Grammys this year, has accused Donald Trump's former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski of sexual assault. Lewandowski twice hit her on her buttocks, she said, during a gathering at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. the day after Thanksgiving.

Villa on Tuesday said she plans to meet next week with investigators about her complaint. She said in an interview from Tampa, Florida, that she was initially hesitant to speak out over concerns of backlash. But she said she called Washington's Metropolitan Police Department on Christmas Eve after a friend who witnessed the alleged assault talked about it publicly and other friends encouraged her to come forward.

"I didn't know him at all," Villa said about Lewandowski. "I only knew him by reputation. He broke my trust."

She said she saw him at a gathering at the Trump International Hotel on the day after Thanksgiving, and said Lewandowski struck her "extremely hard" even after she told him to stop. She said she felt it was "disgusting and shocking and demeaning."

Villa, who is considering a run for a Florida congressional seat, said she initially thought it was sexual harassment, but police told her that touching someone on any body part that is sexual in nature constituted sexual assault. She said she was told it was classified as a misdemeanor.

"I was initially fearful to come forward with this," she said, adding that she did not want to bring shame or embarrassment on Lewandowski's family or hers.

"I did nothing wrong," Villa said. "I realized if he's not going to respond or apologize to me, I think it's the right thing to do."

Lewandowski did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Villa made news earlier this year when she wore a dress displaying Trump's campaign slogan at the Grammys. She explained her decision to wear the dress in an Instagram post, writing, "You can either stand for what you believe in or fall for what you don't." She added, "agree to disagree."

This is not the first time Lewandowski has faced police charges. In March 2016 he was charged with misdemeanor battery for an altercation involving a female reporter after a news conference in Florida. The charges were later dropped.

Trump fired him as campaign manager in June 2016.

Photo credit: Mary Schwalm/Associated Press