Ex-‘Apprentice’ contestant won’t release ‘potentially damaging’ Trump tape

A former contestant on Donald Trump’s reality television competition says he has “potentially damaging” audio of the billionaire from his time on the show, according to a new report.

Brian McDowell, a contestant on the third season of “The Apprentice” in 2005, will not release the tape because, he said, he hopes Trump wins the presidency, Business Insider reported Monday.

{mosads}McDowell declined to provide the outlet with his recording of Trump, who is now the Republican presidential nominee. McDowell told the news publication he refused similar overtures from People magazine and The New York Times.

An independent source confirmed the existence of the audio footage to Business Insider and McDowell’s analysis of its possible impact on Trump.

McDowell, the second candidate fired from “The Apprentice” during his season, told the outlet he is no longer under a nondisclosure agreement from his time on the series.

The reality television participant added he is aware a pro-Hillary Clinton super PAC is offering $5 million to help pay for legal fees stemming from possible violations of such an agreement.

“[The election] is bigger than Trump and $5 million,” he said of a “leak fee” first pitched last month by American Bridge and its founder, longtime Clinton ally David Brock.

McDowell said he thinks Clinton would greatly harm the U.S. should the Democratic presidential nominee win on Election Day.

McDowell added that he thinks Trump is best for the presidency because of possible Supreme Court openings during the next administration.

Business Insider noted McDowell is the Cape May County, N.J., coordinator for Trump’s campaign.

McDowell currently operates Jersey Beach Realty in Wildwood, N.J., it said, and has repeatedly defended Trump in the past.

“It’s not about me or Trump or 15 minutes of fame, it’s about the future generations,” he told The Daily Mail in April, while discussing his support for Trump.

“He’s not perfect. I don’t agree with everything Donald Trump does, and I don’t agree with everything Donald Trump says, but he’s the best candidate we have.”

A 2005 tape emerged last month of Trump detailing his failed sexual advances on a married woman and commenting about groping women’s genitalia without consent.

Twelve women have since alleged the billionaire kissed or groped them without consent before his entrance into politics, allegations he firmly denies.