A New York appeals court said Thursday that President Trump could not halt a defamation lawsuit filed against him by a former Apprentice contestant.
The president’s lawyers sought to stay the case while they worked on an appeal of a judge’s ruling earlier this year that the lawsuit brought by Summer Zervos could proceed.
Trump’s attorneys argued that allowing the case to move forward could interfere with Trump’s duties as president. Additionally, they said the suit was filed in state court, so Trump should not have to respond.
The judges did not agree.
“Upon reading and filing the papers with respect to the motion, and due deliberation having been had thereon, it is ordered that the motion is denied,” the order from the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court read.
The motion means that discovery, or the gathering of evidence, can continue in the case.
During the 2016 presidential…
