In a shocking development, a former server at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, has filed a lawsuit accusing the club’s food and beverage manager, Pavel Melichar, of sexual harassment and manipulation. The lawsuit, filed by Alice Bianco, alleges that Melichar pressured her into engaging in sexual acts in exchange for continued employment and protection.
According to the lawsuit, Melichar’s alleged harassment began shortly after Bianco joined the golf club’s staff in 2021. When another co-worker informed Donald Trump’s personal staff about Melichar’s misconduct towards Bianco and other female employees, Bianco felt compelled to take action.
I don’t even have it in me to snark. The plaintiff, Alice Bianco, was employed at the Trump National Gold Club as a server when her boss began sexually harassing her. pic.twitter.com/2x3Qh00eoI
— Kathryn Tewson (@KathrynTewson) December 2, 2023
Enter Alina Habba, who was not serving as Trump’s attorney at the time but was a member of the club. Under the pretense of wanting to help, Habba allegedly persuaded Bianco to terminate her current employment lawyer and negotiated a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that provided a meager settlement in exchange for Bianco’s silence.
Disturbingly, the lawsuit claims that Habba, while portraying herself as a “neutral” friend, was secretly acting to protect the interests of the Lamington Farm Club and the former President, neither of whom are named as co-defendants. This alleged deception enabled Habba to become Trump’s personal attorney just a month after the NDA was finalized.
A former server at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster alleges she was sexually harassed and coerced into sex by a supervisor, then tricked into signing an illegal non-disclosure agreement by Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba.
The former server, Alice Bianco, said after she hired a… pic.twitter.com/4Y0k6nG1Qk
— Rick E. Harrold (@REHarrold) November 30, 2023
Bianco’s lawsuit seeks to nullify the NDA, claiming it violated New Jersey law. Additionally, she is seeking legal fees, the return of her settlement money, and the right to speak publicly about her ordeal. The lawsuit also aims to bring Habba’s alleged unethical behavior to the attention of the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics.
Bianco’s attorney, Nancy Erika Smith, condemned Habba’s actions, stating, “Alina Habba used the unethical silencing of my client, Ali Bianco, as a way to propel herself into Trump’s inner circle. Her behavior was predatory. Pretending to be ‘neutral’ when acting on behalf of one party is clearly unethical.”
This case raises serious questions about the use of NDAs in silencing victims of sexual harassment. It also highlights the importance of upholding victims’ rights and ensuring that they have access to legal representation that prioritizes their interests, not those of the alleged perpetrator or powerful institutions.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen whether Bianco’s claims will be substantiated and whether she will be able to overturn the NDA and hold Habba and Melichar accountable for their alleged actions. This case will undoubtedly serve as a precedent for future cases involving sexual harassment and the use of NDAs, potentially paving the way for greater transparency and accountability in such situations.