NEW YORK, May 19 (UPI) — Hillary Clinton‘s campaign said Donald Trump is “attacking when he is wounded” in response to the Republican presidential candidate accusing her husband of rape.
Trump, in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Wednesday, brought up the word “rape” when referring to Juanita Broaddrick’s allegations Bill Clinton sexually abused her when she worked on his campaign for Arkansas governor. Also, Kathleen Willey said the former president tried to grope her in a private hallway in the White House in 1993. And Paula Jones sued Clinton in a sexual harassment case in a 1991 incident.
Trump brought up previous allegations against Bill Clinton in response to an unflattering story in The New York Times over the weekend about the Republican’s relation with women. The article explained his personal and professional dealings with women, including talking about their physical appearance. Trump told Hannity it was a “con job.”
“By the way, you know, it’s not like the worst things, OK,” Trump said. “You look at what Clinton’s gone through with all of the problems and all of the things that he’s done.”
Hannity then wondered whether the newspaper would interview all the women who have claimed Bill Clinton mistreated them sexually.
“In one case, it’s about exposure. In another case, it’s about groping and fondling and touching against a woman’s will,” Hannity said.
Trump interjected, “And rape.”
Clinton’s Democratic campaign spokesman Nick Merrill, in a statement after the Trump interview, said Trump was “doing what he does best, attacking when he feels wounded and dragging the American people through the mud for his own gain. If that’s the kind of campaign he wants to run that’s his choice.”
Trump has spoken about Bill Clinton’s misconduct before and he intends to link Hillary Clinton to the allegations. At rallies, he’s called Bill Clinton “the worst abuser of women in the history of politics.” He called Hillary Clinton an “enabler.”
Bill Clinton has chosen to ignore Trump’s statements.
In Puerto Rico last week,: he was asked by a reporter to respond to Trump’s attack on Twitter.
“No. I think people are smart enough to figure this out without my help,” Bill Clinton replied.
Trump, himself responding to ads by Clinton’s super PAC, had tweeted: “Amazing that Crooked Hillary can do a hit ad on me concerning women when her husband was the WORST abuser of (women) in U.S. political history.”
Hillary Clinton also has chosen to generally ignore Trump’ comments.
Earlier this month in Virginia, Hillary Clinton was asked whether she would respond to Trump’s comments.
“I am going to let him run his campaign however he chooses,” she said. “I have nothing to say about him and how he is running his campaign.”
Bill Clinton has denied allegations made by Willey and Broaddrick, but settled with Jones in 1998 though he admitted no wrongdoing.
On Wednesday on Fox, Trump also brought up Clinton’s impeachment by the U.S. House after it was revealed he had an extramarital relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. He was accused of lying under oath and obstructing justice. Ultimately, the Senate acquitted him of the charges and didn’t throw him out of office.
“And big settlements, massive settlements,” Trump added. “And lots of other things. And impeachment for lying.”
