Alleging "mob-like bullying and coercion," Donald Trump has threatened to file a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the man who spearheaded a campaign against Trump's partnership with department store giant Macy's.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Trump has gone after Angelo Carusone, organizer of the online campaign known as "Dump Trump," with a lawsuit for "not less than" $25 million to stop the protest of Trump's Macy's deal. Trump's lawyer called Carusone's efforts "malicious."
“Rather than simply engage in lawful protest, you have apparently made it your mission to interfere with and intentionally disrupt Mr. Trump’s long-standing and well-established business relationship with Macy’s as well as his contractual dealings with other third parties through mob-like bullying and coercion,” reads a cease-and-desist letter from attorney Alan Garten that was obtained by THR.
Carusone started the SignOn.org petition against Trump in November, after Macy's took on Trump as a spokesperson. He claims Trump does not represent the "magic of Macy's" with his sexist behavior, exportation of American jobs overseas, denial of climate change and support for Obama birther conspiracies.
Despite the threat of legal action, Carusone insists that Trump will not stop him.
“Donald Trump’s attempt to silence me will not work. I've dealt with enough bullies and know better than to succumb to intimidation,” he said, via a press release. “By threatening me, Trump is only reinforcing the point that we've been trying to get Macy's to recognize: [T]hat Trump's brand is consequence-free bullying and chicanery; it shouldn't be rewarded."
Carusone went on to say, "I was also surprised to hear Trump's counsel claim that Macy's is supportive of Trump's legal action. Trump doesn't have credibility, so I don't put too much stock in the claim, but I really hope Macy's isn't encouraging these kinds of threats against its own customers.”
The "Dump Trump" petition, which has since garnered more than 680,000 signatures, hasn't managed to deter Macy's, however. “Please understand and appreciate that Macy's marketing and merchandising offerings are not representative of any political position,” Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren previously wrote in a letter. “Ours is a free society compromised [sic] of a wide range of viewpoints.”
Demonstrators stepped out in New York City to protest Macy's decision to back Trump in November.
Recently, Trump has been handing out lawsuits like candy. He sued former Miss USA contestant Sheena Monnin in June for calling the beauty pageant "rigged" and he is allegedly suing comedian Bill Maher for $5 million after "proving" his biological father is not an orangutan.
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