A longtime friend of President Donald Trump who says he helped bring Donald and Melania Trump together is facing explosive allegations from a woman who claims he drugged and sexually assaulted her inside his Manhattan home.
Paolo Zampolli, 56, a former modeling agent who now serves as Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, has been sued by 33-year-old tech entrepreneur and model Victoria Drake.
Drake filed the civil lawsuit in Manhattan federal court on September 3, accusing Zampolli of sexually assaulting her after she allegedly lost consciousness at his Gramercy Park townhouse in October 2023.
Zampolli strongly denies the allegations. He has not been charged with a crime over Drake’s claims, and the allegations have not been proven in court.
According to the complaint, Drake encountered Zampolli at Zero Bond, an exclusive private members club in Manhattan, on October 5, 2023.
Drake claims Zampolli approached her and said he recognized her from Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private club and residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
Drake had previously attended events in Trump’s social orbit and has been photographed with both Donald and Melania Trump.
The two exchanged contact information and later arranged to meet at Zampolli’s townhouse, according to the lawsuit.
Drake alleges Zampolli gave her a drink at the residence and that she subsequently lost consciousness.
She claims she briefly regained consciousness while naked in a bed and realized Zampolli was sexually assaulting her. The lawsuit alleges she was unable to consent because of her condition and claims Zampolli put his hands around her neck during the encounter.
Drake alleges that she woke the following morning naked, bruised and unable to initially locate her clothing.
The complaint says she contacted the New York Police Department the next day and was transported by ambulance to Lenox Health Greenwich Village, where she underwent examinations related to an alleged sexual assault and possible drug-facilitated assault.
There is no indication that Zampolli was arrested or criminally charged following the report.
Zampolli has said the police complaint was later closed and has forcefully disputed Drake’s version of events.
The civil case, Drake v. Zampolli, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams.
Zampolli has accused Drake of making false allegations and maintains that the dispute is part of an effort to extort or damage him.
He has also taken legal action of his own in Italy.
According to Italian media reports and statements from Zampolli, he filed a criminal complaint in Rome accusing Drake of defamation, false accusations and extortion. He has also publicly threatened to pursue a $100 million countersuit.
Drake’s attorney, Jesse S. Weinstein, has rejected those accusations and says his client intends to pursue the case through the courts.
Weinstein said Drake reported the alleged assault to law enforcement immediately and underwent medical examinations the following day.
He also accused Zampolli of publicly attacking Drake while attempts were being made to formally serve him with the federal lawsuit.
Zampolli told PunchUp that he had not discussed the controversy with the White House and maintained that it was a personal legal matter.
The allegations have attracted additional attention because of Zampolli’s decades-long relationship with Trump and his current role in the administration.
Trump officially appointed Zampolli special envoy for global partnerships in March 2025.
Long before entering government, however, Zampolli was a prominent figure in New York’s modeling and social scene.
He operated ID Model Management and helped bring Melania Knauss, now Melania Trump, to New York as a model during the 1990s.
Zampolli has repeatedly said he introduced Melania to Donald Trump during a New York Fashion Week party in 1998.
Melania has confirmed that she first met her future husband at a Fashion Week party that year, although accounts have differed over exactly how the introduction happened.
The couple began dating and married in Palm Beach in 2005. Zampolli remained friendly with the Trumps and has appeared with them at social events over the years.
His proximity to the president makes the lawsuit particularly notable, but neither Donald Trump nor Melania Trump is accused of any wrongdoing in Drake’s case.
The lawsuit concerns allegations against Zampolli alone.
Drake is seeking damages through the federal civil court system, and her complaint includes claims under New York City’s Gender Motivated Violence Protection Act.
The case remains at an early stage, meaning Drake’s allegations have not been tested at trial and no court has determined that Zampolli is liable.
Zampolli continues to deny the accusations and has signaled that he intends to fight them.
The White House and State Department had not publicly commented on the lawsuit as of the latest reporting.
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