An American colonel has denied allegations featured in a US court case that he boasted of sleeping with the Duchess of Sussex.
US Air Force Colonel Mark Anarumo, 54, is claimed to have sexually harassed an employee at a military university where he became president, partly by making inappropriate claims about his sex life, court documents obtained by The Daily Mail reveal.
He is alleged to have told multiple people, including young graduates, ‘that he once had sex with Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex’.
A spokesman for the 42-year-old Duchess has not responded to the claim.
In 2014 Meghan did visit a US Air force base in Turkey where Col Anarumo was then vice-commander.
The future Royal went to the Incirlik base to entertain troops with an American charity that sends celebrities to ‘engage with service members and boost military morale’.
US Air Force Colonel Mark Anarumo, 54, (pictured) is claimed to have sexually harassed an employee at a military university where he became president, partly by making inappropriate claims about his sex life, court documents obtained by The Daily Mail reveal. He is alleged to have told multiple people ‘that he once had sex with Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex’. He has denied that he ever had sex with the duchess or boasted of having done so
Last night Col Anarumo emphatically denied that he ever had sex with the duchess or boasted of having done so, telling the Mail: ‘Yes I met Ms Markle while she was visiting troops.
‘She was kind, sincere, and engaging. We spoke for a few minutes on several occasions, in public settings, but nothing personal or inappropriate ever happened.
‘No I did not boast of anything between Ms Markle and I. I only shared that she was very kind in our interactions and made time for servicemen and women who wanted to meet her.’
He added: ‘My interactions with Ms Markle totalled less than 20 minutes in public settings.’
The claim – which, in addition to being denied by Col Anarumo, is unsupported by evidence – has emerged in a document lodged in April at the courthouse in Washington, Vermont, in the US.
Norwich University, a military training centre, is being sued by its former vice president of development and alumni relations, Elizabeth Kennedy, for sexual harassment and discrimination.
Central to her case is the alleged behaviour of the university’s former president, Col Anarumo, who has served in both the US Army and Air Force, who she claims harassed and discriminated against her for a long time.
The formal civil legal complaint document claims: ‘President Anarumo would regularly recount his sexual exploits at fundraising events.
‘During a trip to Georgia, Ms. Kennedy was present and witnessed him telling two young alumni that he had once had sex with Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.
‘Ms. Kennedy heard him make this claim repeatedly to audiences in various work settings.’
Meghan went on tour with the USO in December 2014. During the tour she visited US airmen at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, other bases in Europe, and Bagram airport in Afghanistan. The Duchess, centre, is pictured with service members during the USO Holiday troop visit at Bagram Air Field December 9, 2014 in Bagram, Afghanistan
The claim document is freely available to all making inquiries at the Vermont courthouse.
Among other alleged misdemeanours, Col Anarumo is criticised for having held up a young female student’s legs while she performed a handstand on a keg of beer at a fundraising event.
Shortly before the court case was launched, Col Anarumo in January resigned from the presidency of Norwich University.
Local media reported he was under investigation for violating the college’s policies and ‘values’ before he quit.
Ms Kennedy is claiming compensation, saying discrimination and harassment forced her out of her job.
A spokesman for Norwich University said: ‘We are working towards a mutually agreeable resolution.’
Col Anarumo denies all allegations of wrongdoing against him.
The future Duchess of Sussex was granted a ‘no fault’ divorce from first husband Trevor Engelson in February 2014.
Later in the year, she began a new relationship with celebrity chef Cory Vitiello in Toronto, where she filmed the television show Suits, the source of her growing fame.
Mr Vitiello was described as the city’s ‘No 1 Bachelor’ before he and Meghan moved into a townhouse, and there were reports of the pair being together a few days before she set off on tour with the United Service Organisations (USO) charity.
The USO had its origins at the start of America’s belated engagement in the Second World War in 1941.
Similar to Britain’s Entertainments National Service Association – which put on shows like those depicted in UK TV sitcom It Ain’t Half Hot Mum – the aim was to entertain troops.
Marlene Dietrich was among early celebrities to tour wartime Europe, posing on a tank in uniform.
Meghan Markle, left, takes a selfie with the audience of soldiers as comedian Rob Riggle looks on during the USO Holiday troop visit at Bagram Air Field December 9, 2014 in Afghanistan
Meghan went on tour with the USO in December 2014, and was pictured at the Incirlik US Air Force base in south-east Turkey, close to Syria.
She was shown smiling and performing on stage alongside fellow celebrities including Glee actress Dianna Agron and baseball pitcher Doug Fister.
The group sang White Christmas to the 5,000 airmen and support staff at the base, with commander of the joint chief of staff General Martin E Dempsey joining in.
Col Anarumo’s online CV says that he was Incirlik vice commander between July 2014 and July 2016.
On the same USO tour Meghan visited US airmen at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, other bases in Europe, and Bagram airport in Afghanistan.
At Mildenhall, according to a post on the USO’s website, ‘Markle showed off her signature five-inch heels’, and General Dempsey and his wife Deanie hosted the celebrities at a Cambridge pub, where the general sang The Wild Rover.
Prince Harry – who first met Meghan two years after she entertained troops at the Turkish base – also has links to the USO.
The charity sponsored the 2013 Warrior Games, the American military’s competitive event for wounded or ill servicemen. It was that event which inspired the Duke of Sussex, 39, to establish his Invictus Games for injured veterans.
Prince Harry married Meghan at Windsor Castle in 2018. By early 2020 they had withdrawn from Royal duties, and they now live with their two children in Montecito, California.