'I was his prey': Corey Lewandowski accuser recalls 'aggressive' groping in new interview

04 October 2024

In 2021, Corey Lewandowski — who is one of former President Donald Trump's closest advisors — groped Trashelle Odom, who at the time was the wife of a major Republican donor. Now, Odom is speaking out publicly about the incident in a new interview.

The Daily Beast reported that in her interview, Odom "fought back tears" in August, when hearing from a friend that Trump was bringing Lewandowski back into his inner circle despite his own promise to her that his one-time campaign manager would no longer be welcome. She recalled his behavior at a charity event three years ago in Las Vegas, Nevada when they sat at the same dinner table, while she was still married to Idaho-based construction magnate John Odom.

According to Odom, Lewandowski put his hand in her lap at one point without her consent, touched her leg and was "going up my side and like, trying to touch my butt."

“I felt like I was his prey,” Odom told Battiste. “He was very persistent, aggressive.”

At one point, Odom said Lewandowski threw his drink at her and laughed when she confronted him. He also reportedly boasted to her about the size of his genitalia and his sexual stamina and bragged about his closeness to the former president. These details were also part of a detailed Washington Post report from August, in which Odom said that Lewandowski told her he could "destroy anyone" due to his powerful connections.

After Odom went to the police, Lewandowski was eventually charged with criminal sexual harassment. He later accepted a plea deal in which he would pay a $1,000 fine and take an "impulse control training" course. Odom told Battiste that she even received a call from Trump himself, in which he apologized to her and tried to explain away Lewandowski's behavior on him being intoxicated at the time. Trump's eldest son, Donald Jr., also called Odom. She said he was "very kind and said things to make me feel like Corey would not be there anymore."

This summer, Trump went back on his word and put Lewandowski back on his campaign team. Odom said she "just broke down" after hearing that the man who groped her was being rewarded with proximity to power.

Trump hired Lewandowski back onto his campaign team in July after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris' sudden new bid for the White House. This ruffled the feathers of Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles — his other two senior campaign advisers — who had been running his third presidential campaign.

Despite her experience, Odom said she is still a "proud Republican." She told Battiste that while she hesitated to speak out about Lewandowski so close to the election, she felt compelled to do so after learning of his new appointment.

"If I can give just a little bit to one person, me speaking up is worth it," she said.

Watch Odom's interview below, or by clicking this link.

From Your Site Articles