Donald Trump’s threat to invite Bill Clinton’s ex-mistress Gennifer Flowers to the presidential debate was intended to “mock” Hillary Clinton
Bill Clinton admitted to having an affair with the former model when he was an attorney general during the early 1990s
DONALD Trump was just "mocking" rival Hilary Clinton when he threatened to invite Bill Clinton's ex-mistress to tonight's first presidential debate, according to his running-mate.
Mike Pense said former model and actress Gennifer Flowers, who claimed to have a 12-year affair with Bill Clinton when he was attorney general during the early 1990s, will not be attending the heated debate.
He said the Republican presidential nominee invited Flowers to make fun of Clinton and distract voters by "playing games with front row seats".
The US billionaire property tycoon made the remarks two days ago ahead of the crucial presidential TV debate at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
It started when Trump critic and owners of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, Mark Cuban tweeted on Thursday: "Just got a front row seat to watch @HillaryClinton overwhelm @realDonaldTrump."
On Saturday, Trump replied: “If dopey Mark Cuban of failed Benefactor fame wants to sit in the front row, perhaps I will put Gennifer Flowers right alongside of him!”
Later that day, Flowers herself appeared to confirm she accepted his invitation, tweeting: “Hi Donald. You know I’m in your corner and will definitely be at the debate!”
But Pence told Fox News: "Gennifer Flowers will not be there. The tweet was actually mocking efforts by Hillary Clinton and her campaign to distract voters."
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Bill Clinton initially denied the claim, but in 1998, he admitted in a sexual harassment suit that he had a single sexual encounter with Flowers.
Flowers then pursued a defamation suit in 1999 against Hillary Clinton and two Clinton aides, James Carville and George Stephanopoulos. It was dismissed.
Tonight's 90-minute face-off is the first of three planned presidential TV debates will kick off at 9 pm on Monday, moderated by NBC’s Lester Holt.
The venue will be packed with 300 students and around 400 invited guests for each campaign and is expected to attract millions of viewers.
Snaps inside the debate site emerged showing the two candidates will have different sized podiums – a short one and a tall one raised internally with plywood.
According to WABC radio host Rita Cosby, Clinton's team wanted the podium modified or a box added for her to stand on so she won’t look short next to Donald Trump”