Trump Denies Mocking Reporter's Disability

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has denied mocking a journalist with a disability, insisting: "I do not know what he looks like." 

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

"Somebody at the financially failing and totally biased New York Times said that, over the years, I have met Mr Kovaleski," Mr Trump said in a defiant statement on Thursday.
"Despite having one of the all-time great memories I certainly do not remember him."
The 69-year-old added: "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."
On Tuesday night, while standing by his much-criticised recent claims that he had witnessed thousands of Muslims cheering in New Jersey after 9/11, Mr Trump appeared to poke fun at journalist Serge Kovaleski's appearance. 
The real estate baron ridiculed the reporter'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, which said that authorities had detained a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the 9/11 attacks and "holding tailgate-style parties on rooftops while they watched the devastation on the other side of the river".
In an interview on CNN, Mr Kovaleski said he did not recall anyone "saying there were thousands, or even hundreds, of people celebrating".
Mr Trump was responding to this comment when he apparently mocked the reporter.
The New York Times issued a statement on Wednesday, which said: "We think it's outrageous that he would ridicule the appearance of one of our reporters."
Speaking to The Washington Post, Mr Kovaleski, who has arthrogryposis, said: "The sad part about it is, it didn't in the slightest bit jar or surprise me that Donald Trump would do something this low-rent, given his track record."
But Mr Trump came out swinging on Thursday, insisting in his tweeted statement: "If Mr Kovaleski is handicapped, I would not know because I do not know what he looks like."
He said he has "tremendous respect for people who are physically challenged" and has spent tens of millions of dollars ensuring full access to his buildings for people with disabilities.
He 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, including when he implied a Fox News reporter was menstruating, criticising Senator John McCain for being captured during the Vietnam War and referring to some Mexicans as "rapists and criminals".