‘Boris treating me like a fleeting one-night stand’
A US businesswoman alleged to have had an affair with Boris Johnson says the PM has left her ‘heartbroken’ and ‘humiliated’.
A US businesswoman at the centre of controversy over whether Boris Johnson showed her inappropriate favouritism amid an alleged affair said on Sunday she had been left “heartbroken” and “humiliated” by the British Prime Minister.
Jennifer Arcuri, who is accused of getting privileged access to foreign trade jaunts and grants when Mr Johnson was London mayor between 2008 and 2016, told Britain’s ITV he was treating her like “some fleeting one-night stand”.
The technology entrepreneur said Mr Johnson, 55, running for re-election on December 12, had rebuffed her requests “for advice” after the scandal erupted in September.
“I’m terribly heartbroken by the way that you have cast me aside like I am some gremlin,” said Ms Arcuri, addressing Mr Johnson directly, according to excerpts given to the Press Association ahead of its broadcast on Sunday.
“I don’t understand why you’ve blocked me and ignored me as if I was some fleeting one-night stand or some girl that you picked up at a bar because I wasn’t — and you know that.
“I felt so disgusted and humiliated that I was told bigger things are at stake, never mind you.”
The show alleges the then married Mr Johnson and Ms Arcuri had an affair for more than four years, although she refused to confirm this. The 34-year-old admitted to ITV she had received mixed advice on what to say publicly about their relationship.
“When the story broke, half the people that reached out told me to categorically deny, deny, deny,” she said. “The other half told me to, admit the, er, affair, fall on the sword, get it over with.”
She was given £126,000 in public money and privileged access to three foreign trade missions led by Mr Johnson. He has insisted everything was “done with complete propriety” but has been referred to a police complaints body.
AFP
US detainee freed from Russian custody ‘in Ukraine war move’
American Marc Fogel is on his way back to the US in a deal with Russia that the Trump administration hailed as possible progress on talks to end the war in Ukraine.
Gaza plan a red line for Egypt and Jordan. Will it backfire on Trump?
Donald Trump’s threat to withdraw aid unless Egypt and Jordan accept Gazans is unlikely to sway them. They’ll simply look to rich Gulf countries or even China, a key investor, to bail them out.