Donald Trump threatens to bring Bill Clinton's former lover to presidential debate

‘Donald – you know I’m in your corner and will definitely be at the debate,’ says Gennifer Flowers

Harriet Agerholm
Sunday 25 September 2016 10:34 BST
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Ms Flowers’s assistant later confirmed that the model and actress would accept the invitation
Ms Flowers’s assistant later confirmed that the model and actress would accept the invitation (Getty)

Donald Trump has threatened to bring a woman Bill Clinton had an affair with to a debate with Hillary Clinton on Monday.

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Mr Trump slated Clinton-invitee Mark Cuban on Twitter by calling him “dopey” and threatened to bring Mr Clinton’s former lover, Gennifer Flowers, to the debate.

He said in a tweet: “If dopey Mark Cuban of failed Benefactor fame wants to sit in the front row, perhaps I will put Gennifer Flowers right alongside of him!”

The tweet was published with Ms Flower’s first name mispelled, deleted, and then republished with the correct spelling.

An influential businessman and fellow billionaire, Mr Cuban has publicly criticised Mr Trump in the past – repeatedly attacking him for not releasing his tax returns and calling him “bats*** crazy”.

“Trump scares me,” Mr Cuban said after announcing his support for Ms Clinton. “Donald, initially, I really hoped he would be something different, that as a businessperson, I thought there was an opportunity there. But then he went off the reservation and went bats*** crazy.”

One Clinton aide told CNN Mr Cuban was invited to the front row of the event because “he has proven to be singularly effective in making the case against Trump and for Clinton.”

After Mr Trump’s statement, Ms Flowers said on social media she would come to the debate.

Her assistant later confirmed to Buzzfeed that Ms Flowers would accept an invitation from Mr Trump to sit in the front at the event, although it is not yet clear whether the Republican nominee has extended a formal invitation.

Mr Trump recently released a negative campaign advertisement featuring footage of Mr Clinton being interviewed about Ms Flowers in 1992.

Following the exchange, Ms Clinton’s communications director said: “Hillary Clinton plans on using the debate to discuss the issues that make a difference in people’s lives. It’s not surprising that Donald Trump has chosen a different path.”

It is unclear whether the Commission on Presidential Debates, which is organising the event, will allow either Ms Flowers or Mr Cuban to sit in the front row as it may disrupt the discussion.

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