Donald Trump’s ‘Apprentice’ Footage Cannot Legally Be Released, Source Reports
After Donald Trump’s leaked conversation with Billy Bush, some are wondering whether there is additional footage of Trump which could be damaging to his campaign.
According to Bill Pruitt, a producer on Season 1 and Season 2 of The Apprentice, there absolutely is — and it’s far worse than the lewd conversation Trump had with Billy Bush back in 2005.
As a producer on seasons 1 & 2 of #theapprentice I assure you: when it comes to the #trumptapes there are far worse. #justthebegininng
— Bill Pruitt (@billpruitt) October 8, 2016
But that doesn’t mean the public will ever hear anything Trump said on the unaired Apprentice footage. In fact, according to a source for TMZ, the videos cannot legally be released.
That’s because, the celebrity news site reported, there are “iron-clad confidentiality agreements that would make such release impossible.”
“It’s owned by MGM, and there are written agreements that would almost guarantee a lawsuit if the footage is released… especially because it captures many people other than Trump.”
TMZ reported that the show’s creator, Mark Burnett, has faced mounting pressure to release the alleged footage of Donald Trump on The Apprentice. If the unnamed source is correct, the footage simply cannot be released.
TMZ also noted that the footage from the 2005 conversation with Billy Bush had not been released by Access Hollywood. Instead, someone else was able to get their hands on the tapes and release them to the public.
In the tapes, Trump is heard graphically describing ways in which to grope and assault women, stating “when you’re a star, they let you do it.”
The allegation by Pruitt comes just days after an Associated Press investigation claimed that Donald Trump was regularly “lewd and sexist” while working on The Apprentice.
“Eight former crew members recalled that he repeatedly made lewd comments about a camerawoman he said had a nice rear, comparing her beauty to that of his daughter, Ivanka.”
Trump’s campaign has refuted claims made public in the Associated Press report, calling the allegations “outlandish, unsubstantiated and totally false claims fabricated by publicity-hungry, opportunistic, disgruntled former employees, [which] have no merit whatsoever.”
The Apprentice, which was one of the most successful prime-time television shows in history, originally aired on NBC. According to a Politico report, NBC does not own the footage and is unable to release it.
In fact, when speaking of the Trump tapes, an NBC spokeswoman told Politico that “they’re pursuing it along with every other news organization reporting on this story.”
If what Bill Pruitt is alleging is true, then Trump’s behavior on the set of The Apprentice would likely have a large impact on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
Many people are saying – “Some Old Apprentice Footage Allegedly Features #Trump Using the N-Word” #trumptapeshttps://t.co/dfVVIZKU4l
— Pitt Griffin (@pittgriffin) October 9, 2016
Since the lewd conversation from 2005 became public, many Republican Party leaders have condemned Trump’s behavior. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Trump’s running mate, Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence are among those who have called Donald Trump’s lewd comments unacceptable. Trump’s wife, Melania Trump, has spoken out against Donald’s words, as well, calling her husband’s comments “offensive.”
14 U.S. senators, 18 House reps, and 4 governors have unendorsed Trump since Friday.
Honestly, it’s hard to keep count. #TrumpTapes
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 9, 2016
After the 2005 footage was released, Trump issued the first apology of his campaign, saying “I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize.”
What do you think of the allegations made by Bill Pruitt? Do you think there is footage out there of Donald Trump behaving in ways that could be more offensive than the behavior recently revealed in his 2005 conversation with Billy Bush? If that footage exists, would you like to hear it? Why or why not?
[Featured Image by Ethan Miller/Getty Images]
