By Jose A. DelReal
The Washington Post.
Donald Trump disparaged former Miss Universe Alicia Machado’s character during an early morning tweet storm Friday and accused her of having a “sex tape.”
His attack on Machado, which appeared to be based on rumors circulating on the Internet, came amid an ongoing controversy over his comments about her weight gain in the months after she won the Miss Universe pageant in 1996. Trump’s public treatment of Machado at the time has been at the center of intense scrutiny since his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, brought up Machado during Monday’s presidential debate.
In a series of tweets sent from the real estate developer’s Twitter account, Trump called Machado “disgusting,” a “con” and raised questions about her past. The tweets – which were sent between 3 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. – are the latest in a series of negative statements Trump has made about Machado.
The allegation that Machado had a “sex tape” appears to be false. Trump appears to have been referring to racy footage from a Spanish-language reality television show called “La Granja,” on which she appeared in 2005.
Trump also alleged that Clinton helped Machado become a U.S. citizen in order to attack him. There is no evidence supporting that claim.
“Did Crooked Hillary help disgusting (check out sex tape and past) Alicia M become a U.S. citizen so she could use her in the debate?” Trump tweeted at 5L30 a.m.
In an attempt to discredit Machado, Trump’s allies have also pointed to news reports of a controversial incident in 1998 in Venezuela, in which Machado was suspected of having driven a getaway car for her then-boyfriend after he shot someone. She later allegedly threatened the judge involved in the case. No charges were ever filed against her, and earlier this week she called those reports “speculation.”
Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta, mocked Trump on social media Friday morning.
“I’m almost realDonaldTrump’s age, so get the urge to get up in the middle of the night, but impt safety tip: don’t reach for your phone,” Podesta tweeted.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
