The campaign of Donald Trump has been ordered to pay the legal fees incurred by former campaign and White House aide, former “Apprentice” contestant Omarosa Manigault Newman, whom Trump sued claiming that she was in violation of an unenforceable non-disclosure agreement.
As the New York Times reports, this case was one in a series of losses Trump incurred relating to non-disclosure agreements he made his White House staff sign. Courts have repeatedly ruled that such contracts forced on government employees are not enforceable because the signer works for the government, not the person holding office. Trump wanted to stop confidantes from writing tell-all books–something of a tradition for White House staffers for decades–and Newman did just that, publishing “Unhinged” in 2018.
“Respondent was defending herself in a claim which was extensively litigated for more than three years, against an opponent who undoubtedly commanded far greater resources than did respondent,” the arbitrator noted.
Thanks to emnyc for the tip.