Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Tuesday 12 december 2017
#MeToo spotlight increasingly pointed at past Trump conduct

By JONATHAN LEMIRE nials about allegations
Associated Press against the president. The
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald president’s advisers were
Trump sailed past a raft of stunned Sunday when
allegations of sexual mis- one of the highest-rank-
conduct in last year’s presi- ing women in the Trump
dential election. administration broke with
Now the national #MeToo the White House line and
spotlight is turning back to said the accusers’ voices
Trump and his past con- “should be heard.”
duct. Several of his accus- “They should be heard,
ers are urging Congress to and they should be dealt
investigate his behavior, with,” Nikki Haley, the U.S.
and a number of Demo- ambassador to the United
cratic lawmakers are de- Nations, said in a CBS inter-
manding his resignation. view. “And I think we heard
With each day seeming to from them before the elec-
bring new headlines that tion. And I think any woman
force men from positions who has felt violated or felt
of power, the movement mistreated in any way, they
to expose sexual harass- have every right to speak
ment has forced an unwel- up.”Haley’s comments in-
come conversation on the furiated the president, ac-
White House. In a heated Rachel Crooks, left, Jessica Leeds, center, and Samantha Holvey attend a news conference, cording to two people who
exchange with reporters Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, in New York to discuss their accusations of sexual misconduct against are familiar with his views
in the White House brief- Donald Trump. but who spoke on condition
ing room on Monday, press Associated Press of anonymity because they
secretary Sarah Huckabee “If they were willing to in- ate and House Ethics Com- the moment and called for aren’t authorized to speak
Sanders steadfastly dis- vestigate Sen. Franken, it’s mittees investigate mem- Trump to step down. publicly about private
missed accusations against only fair that they do the bers of Congress, not presi- “President Trump should conversations. Trump has
the Republican president same for Trump,” Crooks dents, and Republican-led resign,” New York Sen. grown increasingly angry
and suggested the issue said. committees are not apt to Kirsten Gillibrand told CNN in recent days that the ac-
had already been litigated Franken, the Democratic investigate Trump on sexual on Monday. “These allega- cusations against him have
in Trump’s favor on Election senator from Minnesota, an- misconduct unless there is tions are credible; they are resurfaced, telling associ-
Day. nounced last week that he some sort of connection to numerous. I’ve heard these ates that the charges are
But to Trump’s accusers, the would resign amid an eth- the ongoing Russia probe. women’s testimony, and false and drawing parallels
rising #MeToo movement is ics probe into accusations Sen. Lindsey Graham, many of them are heart- to the accusations facing
an occasion to ensure he is that he sexually harassed R-S.C., said Congress breaking.” Republican Alabama Sen-
at last held accountable. several women. Reps. John shouldn’t investigate the New Jersey Sen. Cory Book- ate candidate Roy Moore.
“It was heartbreaking last Conyers, D-Mich., and Trent allegations against Trump. er and Oregon Sen. Jeff Sixteen women have come
year. We’re private citizens Franks, R-Ariz., also resigned “I don’t think there’s any Merkley have also called forward with a range of ac-
and for us to put ourselves after misconduct accusa- forum for us to do that,” he on Trump to resign. cusations against Trump,
out there to try and show tions. said. “Just think about how White House aides have many after the release of
America who this man is But a Capitol Hill investiga- that could be abused.” warily watched the move- the “Access Hollywood”
and how he views women, tion into Trump’s conduct Nonetheless, several Demo- ment sweep Capitol Hill, tape last October in which
and for them to say, ‘Eh, appears unlikely. The Sen- cratic senators have seized opting to repeat rote de- Trump was caught on an
we don’t care,’ it hurt,” Sa- open microphone brag-
mantha Holvey said Mon- ging about groping wom-
day. The former beauty en. One woman, Summer
queen claimed that Trump Zevos, a contestant on
ogled her and other Miss Trump’s reality show, “The
America pageant contes- Apprentice,” sued, con-
tants in their dressing room tending that Trump’s de-
in 2006. nials of her accusations
“Let’s try round two,” she amount to false and de-
said. “The environment’s famatory statements.
different. Let’s try again.” Jessica Leeds, who ap-
Holvey was one of four peared at Monday’s news
women to make her case conference, recalled sit-
against Trump on Monday, ting on an airplane next to
both in an NBC interview Trump in the 1970s when he
and then in a news con- began to fondle her.
ference. Rachel Crooks, “All of a sudden, he’s all
a former Trump Tower re- over me. Kissing and grop-
ceptionist who said the ce- ing, groping and kissing,”
lebrity businessman kissed she said. “Nothing was said.
her on the mouth in 2006 It was just this silent groping
without consent, called going on.”
for Congress to “put aside Trump denied the allega-
party affiliations and inves- tions during the campaign,
tigate Trump’s history of White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders points to a reporter’s question during a and Sanders did the same
sexual misconduct.” press briefing at the White House, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, in Washington. Monday.q
Associated Press