The lawyer for a model who has accused Paolo Zampolli of drugging and raping her has vowed to pursue a civil lawsuit against him after the former presidential special envoy was ousted from President Donald Trump's administration. Victoria Drake, a 33 year-old model and tech entrepreneur, accused Zampolli of sexually assaulting her at his Manhattan townhouse in 2023. Zampolli has denied the allegations against him.
Drake's attorney told Newsweek: "We are aware that Mr. Zampolli has been removed from his position in the Trump administration. Our focus remains on advancing Ms.
Drake’s case in court and pursuing accountability through the judicial process." Zampolli, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, was removed from his role as the administration’s special envoy for global partnerships this week following a bitter email dispute with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. A U.S. official told Newsweek on Friday: "Paolo was notified yesterday that his status as an envoy has been terminated and he is no longer a government employee." Newsweek has contacted Zampolli via social media for comment. According to the complaint, Drake alleges Zampolli sexually assaulted her at his Manhattan townhouse on October 7, 2023, after she accepted an invitation to a gathering.
She claims she lost consciousness after being offered a drink and later briefly regained consciousness to find Zampolli sexually assaulting her. Drake reported the incident to the NYPD the following day and underwent sexual assault examinations at a New York hospital, where bruising was documented on her left leg and hips, the complaint said.Newsweek contacted the NYPD for comment on Friday. Drake is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, alleging Zampolli engaged in unlawful gender-motivated violence under New York City law.
She has requested a jury trial, with an initial conference scheduled for November 6. Drake's complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on September 3.
Zampolli denies the allegations. The 56-year-old Italian-born businessman told Newsweek via email on Tuesday: "Sexual assault is an extremely serious matter, and anyone who has suffered abuse deserves compassion, dignity and justice. The allegations against me are false, and I categorically deny them.
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