Donald Trump accused of raping writer in dressing room of New York department store 23 years ago

US President Donald Trump has been accused of raping a writer in the dressing room of a New York department store more than 20 years ago.  Agony aunt columnist Elizabeth Jean Carroll, known as E Jean Carroll, alleges that Trump sexually assaulted her at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan.  Trump, 73, has flatly denied the sexual assault allegations, saying: "I've never me this person in my life."  Mr Trump said: "Ms Carroll & New York Magazine: No pictures? No surveillance? No video? No reports? No sales attendants around?? I would like to thank Bergdorf Goodman for confirming they have no video footage of any such incident, because it never happened."  She is the 16th women to publicly accuse the American commander-in-chief – who infamously bragged of grabbing ladies “by the p****” - of sexual assault or harassment.  Carroll, now 75, claimed in New York magazine that he had launched the violent attack after encouraging her to try on lingerie in either late 1995 or early 1996.  She alleged: “The moment the dressing-room door is closed, he lunges at me, pushes me against the wall, hitting my head quite badly, and puts his mouth against my lips.  “I am so shocked I shove him back and start laughing again.  “He seizes both my arms and pushes me up against the wall a second time, and, as I become aware of how large he is, he holds me against the wall with his shoulder and jams his hand under my coat dress and pulls down my tights.” RAPE ALLEGATIONS  She alleged that he then began “forcing his fingers around my private area” before thrusting “his penis halfway - or completely, I’m not certain - inside me”.  The White House strongly denied the claims, in a statement to the magazine.  A spokesman said: “This is a completely false and unrealistic story surfacing 25 years after allegedly taking place and was created simply to make the President look bad.”  The episode is one of six incidents Carroll details in the article of attacks on her by men over the course of her life.  Carroll, who has had a column in Elle magazine since 1993, said that her encounter with Donald Trump had started friendly – with him recognising her as “that advice lady”.  He told her he was in the department story to there to buy a gift for “a girl” – thought to be ex-wife Marla Maples.  The alleged attack took place after Trump asks Carroll to try on lingerie that he wanted to buy as a present.  Carroll is now at least the 16th woman to accuse Donald Trump of sexual misconduct.  She claimed that she disclosed the Trump incident to two friends at the time – with one telling her to go to the police and another warning against it.  They are said to have verified her claims.  Carroll said that the Donna Karan coat-dress she wore that day “still hangs on the back of my closet door” and the writer was pictured wearing it for New York magazine.  She said wanted to join the 15 others “who’ve come forward with credible stories about how the man grabbed, badgered, belittl

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