GOP silent as another woman says Trump sexually assaulted her

Republican leaders have been silent on the allegations of sexual assault by Trump from writer E. Jean Carroll — the latest in a long line of women who have accused Trump, an admitted sexual assailant.

Top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy have not said anything about the allegations. Other Republicans of note, like Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), or Reps. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Jim Jordan (R-OH), have not acknowledged the news.

Carroll says that in either 1995 or 1996, Trump raped her in the dressing room of a Bergdorf Goodman store. In a first-person account of the attack published Friday in New York Magazine, Carroll said Trump opened her overcoat, “unzips his pants, and, forcing his fingers around my private area, thrusts his penis halfway — or completely, I’m not certain — inside me.”

Trump denied the account in a statement later that day.

“I’ve never met this person in my life,” Trump lied. In the New York magazine article there is a photo of Trump speaking with Carroll in the late 1980s.

“It is a disgrace and people should pay dearly for such false accusations,” he went on to threaten.

Carroll spoke to CNN on Monday and slammed Trump’s self-serving statement.

“He denies it, he turns it around, he attacks, and he threatens. And then everybody forgets it, and the next woman comes along, and I am sick of it,” she said. “I am sick of it. Think how many women have come forward, nothing happens.”

At least 22 women have accused Trump of sexual assault or misconduct.

Jill Harth accused him of attempting to rape her. Kristin Anderson said Trump put his hand up her skirt. Karena Virginia said Trump groped her breast. Jessica Leeds said Trump grabbed her breasts and tried to put his hand up her skirt.

A pageant contestant said Trump forcibly kissed her on the mouth, and teenage contestants said Trump walked into their dressing room to see them as they changed clothes.

“When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything,” Trump said in 2005, bragging about committing sexual assault to Access Hollywood host Billy Bush. “Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.”

Carroll’s account echoes the stories of other women who have accused Trump of assault, as well as Trump’s own words when he admitted to being a sexual predator. Trump’s immediate response to Carroll was a mixture of his usual lies and threats.

As has consistently been the case when these revelations are made, Trump’s allies have remained silent.

Republican leaders continue to back a sexual predator because he is key to accomplishing their political goals.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.