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Who are the key women accusing Donald Trump of sexual misconduct?
Executive summary
At least two dozen women have publicly accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct spanning the 1970s through the 2010s; contemporaneous tallies in major outlets report roughly 26–28 accusers, with some lists updated to about 27 after late-2024 reporting [1] [2] [3]. The allegations and responses vary: some women have pursued legal action (including E. Jean Carroll, who won a civil judgment), many issued public statements or interviews, and Trump has consistently denied the claims [2] [4] [3].
1. Who is counted among the accusers — short list and sources
News outlets and compendiums list dozens of women by name; earlier compilations cited “at least 26” and later tallies rose to about 27–28 as new accounts emerged, for example Business Insider’s 26, The Guardian’s timeline and Wikipedia’s compilation, and Axios’ update naming Stacey Williams as roughly the 27th [2] [5] [3] [1]. Media lists—Time, ABC News and The Guardian—have published named chronologies that include E. Jean Carroll, Jessica Leeds, Rachel Crooks, Summer Zervos, Jill Harth, Jessica Drake and others [6] [4] [5].
2. Legal outcomes and notable court actions
Not all accusations led to criminal charges. Two accusers pursued legal action against Trump in civil court: E. Jean Carroll sued and a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding damages; other cases include Summer Zervos’ defamation suit tied to her accusations [3] [4]. Available sources do not list widespread criminal indictments tied directly to most accusers; reporting emphasizes civil litigation and public allegations [3] [4].
3. Timeline and pattern described by journalists
Chronologies assembled by The Guardian and others trace allegations from the 1970s through the 1990s and into the 2010s, describing a range of claims—groping, forced kissing, alleged sexual assault and inappropriate conduct at events like pageants and social gatherings—which reporters say together form a pattern of accusations [5] [1]. Compilations emphasize repeated types of allegations (groping, kissing without consent, alleged sexual assault) across decades [1].
4. Disagreements, denials and contested claims
Trump and his campaign have repeatedly denied the allegations; reporting shows he has called many accounts “fake” and denied meeting some accusers at all [6] [3]. Some accusers’ stories have been contested in media coverage or led to legal pushback; for example, Jill Harth’s 1997 suit was withdrawn after settlements noted in reporting, and other accusers have faced public debate over timing and evidence [1] [4]. Available sources do not offer a uniform legal adjudication across the full list of accusations—some were litigated, others remain public claims [4].
5. How news organizations count and why totals differ
Different outlets report different totals—“at least 26,” “roughly 27,” “at least 28”—because new allegations surfaced over time and compendia update as journalists add accounts; Wikipedia, Business Insider, Axios and The Guardian snapshots reflect that evolution [2] [3] [1] [5]. Journalistic lists typically count on-the-record accusations published in reputable outlets; differences stem from whether settlements, recanted claims or newly reported accounts are included [1] [2].
6. Broader context and related reporting threads
Coverage frequently situates the accusations alongside the 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape and Trump’s public comments about sexual behavior, which informed public reaction when many women spoke out during the 2016 campaign [6] [7]. Reporting since 2016 has linked these allegations to debates about accountability, legal recourse for alleged victims, and how political actors respond to allegations—both in terms of denial and defense of accused allies [6] [8].
7. Limitations in the reporting and what’s not in these sources
The provided sources document named accusers, select legal outcomes and journalistic tallies, but they do not supply a single, authoritative vetted roster with a final settled count; outlets update lists as new accounts emerge, so totals vary [2] [3] [1]. Detailed evidentiary summaries for each allegation, outcomes of any non-public settlements, or exhaustive legal case files are not included in the supplied reporting—available sources do not mention comprehensive court-by-court evidence for every name on the lists [4] [5].
8. What readers should watch next
Expect continued incremental updates in major outlets when new accusers speak, when appeals or enforcement actions unfold in civil judgments, or when additional reporting (timelines, interviews) adds names; Axios, The Guardian and encyclopedic compilations like Wikipedia are among the sources that have updated totals when new accounts emerged [3] [5] [1]. When assessing future claims, consult primary reporting and court documents cited by outlets to separate public allegations from adjudicated findings [4] [3].