GOP senators refuse to address 16th sexual assault allegation against Trump

Republicans have now had several days to comment on the 16th sexual assault allegation against Trump. Instead, they’re pretending it isn’t even worth paying attention to — and some are outright defending Trump.

Writer E. Jean Carroll came forward Friday with a horrific story of being raped by Trump in the mid-1990s. Trump, predictably, had a disgusting response to the allegations, saying Carroll was “not my type” and that “it never happened.” He even said he’d never met her, in spite of the fact that Carroll’s article contains a picture of them together.

Even though both Carroll’s story and Trump’s denial have dominated the news, members of Trump’s party are making a point of either ignoring or downplaying the allegation.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has yet to comment on Carroll’s allegations. When asked outright if he had anything to say about Trump’s response, he would only say, “I don’t have any comments about that.”

Silence is probably a better response than what Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) came up with, which was to pretend he knew nothing about it. “I honestly have been reading on policies, I just don’t know about the case. You’re asking me about a story I’ve never even read.”

Perhaps Rubio could take time away from piously tweeting Bible verses and pay attention to the fact that the leader of his party has been repeatedly — and credibly — accused of sexual assault.

Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Tim Scott (R-SC) both insisted they knew nothing about it, Alexander because he “hasn’t followed those” and Scott because “I haven’t taken the time to read anything about that yet.”

Trump’s golf buddy Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) unquestioningly backed Trump: “He’s denied it, and that’s enough for me. Until somebody comes up with something new.” It’s unclear how many more rape allegations would constitute “something new” for Graham.

Similarly, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) said he took Trump’s denial “at face value,” suggesting he’d believe what Trump said no matter what. Tillis did not explain why he wouldn’t take Carroll’s allegations at face value, but did take the opportunity to pivot and smear the women who made credible allegations of sexual assault against Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. “I remember a pattern of conduct the press tried to conjure with Brett Kavanaugh that much of it proved to be incorrect,” he baselessly claimed.

The best response thus far from the GOP is a tepid statement from Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT). Romney said it is a “very serious allegation” and declared there should be an “evaluation.” However, he’s not sure who should do the evaluation or what that evaluation should look like, saying “whether it’s Congress or whether it’s another setting, I’m not sure.”

Trump once boasted he could “stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.” It’s also clear that violent crimes against women won’t lose him the backing of his party.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.