Photo: Getty

A former business collaborator has alleged that Donald Trump excluded black models and contestants from his parties and calendar competitions, according to a formal complaint.

The Boston Globe has the story of George Houraney and Jill Harth, a couple who operated the Florida company American Dream Calendar Girls, and worked with the Republican presidential frontrunner to feature pageant contestants in pinup calendars. Court documents reveal a long legal battle with Trump, allegations that he groped Harth, and a harrowing look at Trump’s business dealings in the 1990s.

The 12-page complaint, filed in April 1997, was dropped by Harth, but she has recently said that she stands by the allegations detailed in it.

One point in particular is startling: Harth alleged in her civil lawsuit complaint that Trump “directed that any black female contestants be excluded” from a party he held at his home in Florida. She also recalled his choices when she would send him 4x6 photos to look through to choose party models and contestants for the calendar competition. From the Globe:

Over time, Houraney discovered what Trump’s type in women was: “Blond hair. All American look. Not too tall, not too short,” he said. He also noticed another pattern: In every packet Houraney would send, he included black women. He was sensitive over charges that the contest was not diverse enough. Never, Houraney says, did Trump pick one.

The incident is one in a long and depressing string of others like it in the piece that paint a picture of a lascivious, misogynist, and disrespectful businessman, who preys on women and gets away with it. But I guess we already knew that about Trump anyway.