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Trump Denies Mocking Reporter's Disability

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has issued a defiant statement denying he mocked a journalist with a disability.

During a campaign rally this week in South Carolina, the tycoon appeared to ridicule a New York Times reporter's congenital condition that affects joint movement.

Mr Trump said on Thursday that "despite having one of the all-time great memories" he had no recollection of ever meeting Serge Kovaleski.

The reporter covered Mr Trump for the New York Daily News between 1987-93.

The 69-year-old said: "In my speech I merely mocked what I thought would be a flustered reporter trying to get out of a statement he had made long ago."

"If Mr Kovaleski is handicapped," he added, "I would not know because I do not know what he looks like."

But in an interview, Mr Kovaleski said the two did know each other from his New York Daily News days.

He added: "Donald and I were on a first-name basis for years.

"I've interviewed him in his office. I've talked to him at press conferences. All in all, I would say around a dozen times, I've interacted with him as a reporter while I was at The Daily News."

Mr Trump demanded an apology from the "failing New York Times", which had said his behaviour was "outrageous".

The former reality TV star referred to the journalist on Tuesday night, while standing by his own recent claims that he witnessed thousands of Muslims cheering in New Jersey on 9/11 .

The real estate baron ridiculed Mr Kovaleski's recollections of whether the purported celebrations actually happened.

Jerking his arms in front of his body, Mr Trump said: "Now the poor guy - you've got to see this guy. 'Ah, I don't know what I said! I don't remember.'"

Mr Trump cited a 2001 article by Mr Kovaleski, who was working for the Washington Post at the time.

The report said authorities had detained a number of people who were allegedly holding "tailgate-style parties on rooftops" after the 9/11 attacks.

Mr Kovaleski told CNN this week he did not recall anyone "saying there were thousands, or even hundreds, of people celebrating".

Mr Trump was responding to this comment when he poured scorn on the reporter.

Speaking to the Washington Post, Mr Kovaleski, who has arthrogryposis, said it didn't surprise him that Mr Trump would do "something this low-rent".

But Mr Trump insisted on Thursday he has invested heavily to ensure full access to his buildings for people with disabilities.

His statement concluded: "The New York Times has become more and more irrelevant and rapidly becoming a total joke - sad!"

Mr Trump has frequently courted controversy in his campaign.

He implied a Fox News reporter was menstruating , criticised Senator John McCain for being captured during the Vietnam War and referred to some Mexicans as "rapists and criminals" .