This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/oct/13/trump-sexual-misconduct-allegations-election-clinton-obama

The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 17 Version 18
Donald Trump says sexual misconduct accusers are 'horrible, horrible liars' – live Donald Trump says sexual misconduct accusers are 'horrible, horrible liars' – live
(35 minutes later)
1.44am BST
01:44
If the slew of Trump allegations and his responses are getting a bit much, Hillary Clinton shares your pain, she told a rally in San Francisco earlier on Thursday:
It makes you want to unplug the internet or just look at cat gifs.
Believe me, in the last few weeks, I have watched a lot of cats do a lot of weird and interesting things.
1.38am BST
01:38
And back in Cincinnati, where Trump has just said there is no better or safer place to be than a Trump rally:
Not fans of political correctness pic.twitter.com/0BnkwIGm2I
1.33am BST
01:33
Meanwhile:
Barack Obama is LIGHTING INTO Republicans who just now figured out Trump is unacceptable. "You don't get points for that."
"People who know better stood silently by." Can't argue with that.
Updated
at 1.45am BST
1.28am BST
01:28
Trump says if Clinton goes to China "if she goes down in Tiananmen Square, they'll just leave her there."
1.23am BST
01:23
Trump says “multi-generational terrorism … is embedded in our communities … all over our country”:
I am going to keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country!
To be strong, the US needs to be a rich country, Trump adds. Current trade deals are “terrible, horrible”, he says.
Updated
at 1.46am BST
1.18am BST1.18am BST
01:1801:18
Claire Phipps
Donald Trump is speaking now in Cincinnati. He’s on to his favoured topics: Hillary Clinton should be locked up; he’ll appoint a special prosecutor to investigate her. He’s going to build a wall. And who is going to pay for it, he muses.Donald Trump is speaking now in Cincinnati. He’s on to his favoured topics: Hillary Clinton should be locked up; he’ll appoint a special prosecutor to investigate her. He’s going to build a wall. And who is going to pay for it, he muses.
Mexico, the crowd helpfully supplies.Mexico, the crowd helpfully supplies.
Apparently that is indeed the correct answer, Trump confirms.Apparently that is indeed the correct answer, Trump confirms.
Trump: The Clintons are the past but we are all going to be together a very bright futureTrump: The Clintons are the past but we are all going to be together a very bright future
Updated
at 1.46am BST
1.08am BST1.08am BST
01:0801:08
Claire Phipps
A lawyer for Billy Bush – caught on tape laughing along with Trump’s comments about groping women – has said Bush would have been fired if he had stood up to Trump, Associated Press reports:A lawyer for Billy Bush – caught on tape laughing along with Trump’s comments about groping women – has said Bush would have been fired if he had stood up to Trump, Associated Press reports:
An attorney for Billy Bush is defending the TV personality’s part in a lewd 2005 exchange with Donald Trump.An attorney for Billy Bush is defending the TV personality’s part in a lewd 2005 exchange with Donald Trump.
Marshall Grossman told the Hollywood Reporter that Bush would have been fired from his then job with Access Hollywood if he’d been passive or told Trump to shut up.Marshall Grossman told the Hollywood Reporter that Bush would have been fired from his then job with Access Hollywood if he’d been passive or told Trump to shut up.
Grossman noted Bush was a NBC Universal employee talking with NBC’s The Apprentice star.Grossman noted Bush was a NBC Universal employee talking with NBC’s The Apprentice star.
The attorney, who was quoted by the trade paper online Thursday, declined comment when reached by phone.The attorney, who was quoted by the trade paper online Thursday, declined comment when reached by phone.
Bush, who joined NBC News’ Today as a co-host in recent months, was suspended after the tape became public last week. NBC is said to be privately negotiating his exit.Bush, who joined NBC News’ Today as a co-host in recent months, was suspended after the tape became public last week. NBC is said to be privately negotiating his exit.
Both NBC and Access Hollywood declined to comment on the report. A publicist for Bush didn’t immediately respond when asked for comment.Both NBC and Access Hollywood declined to comment on the report. A publicist for Bush didn’t immediately respond when asked for comment.
More on one of the previously lesser-known Bushes here:More on one of the previously lesser-known Bushes here:
Updated
at 1.45am BST
12.53am BST12.53am BST
00:5300:53
Claire Phipps
Let’s hope People magazine is checking its Twitter notifications: it looks as if Melania Trump’s lawyers have sent that letter to the wrong postal address.Let’s hope People magazine is checking its Twitter notifications: it looks as if Melania Trump’s lawyers have sent that letter to the wrong postal address.
Mathew Katz, news editor at Time magazine (People is part of Time Inc), says the company moved almost a year ago:Mathew Katz, news editor at Time magazine (People is part of Time Inc), says the company moved almost a year ago:
This was mailed to the wrong address - we (Time Inc.) moved downtown in November https://t.co/yhXkx3mLPtThis was mailed to the wrong address - we (Time Inc.) moved downtown in November https://t.co/yhXkx3mLPt
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.54am BST at 1.46am BST
12.41am BST12.41am BST
00:4100:41
Melania Trump demands retraction from People magazineMelania Trump demands retraction from People magazine
Claire PhippsClaire Phipps
Melania Trump has now weighed in on the flurry of accusations that have hit her husband in recent days, posting to Twitter a letter apparently sent by her lawyers to People magazine, which published an account by reporter Natasha Stoynoff who said Donald Trump had kissed her against her will at his Mar-A-Lago estate a decade ago.Melania Trump has now weighed in on the flurry of accusations that have hit her husband in recent days, posting to Twitter a letter apparently sent by her lawyers to People magazine, which published an account by reporter Natasha Stoynoff who said Donald Trump had kissed her against her will at his Mar-A-Lago estate a decade ago.
The letter – tweeted with only a “!” for comment – demands that People magazine remove and apologise for statements in the article that describe a meeting between Stoynoff and Melania Trump after the alleged groping took place:The letter – tweeted with only a “!” for comment – demands that People magazine remove and apologise for statements in the article that describe a meeting between Stoynoff and Melania Trump after the alleged groping took place:
Mrs Trump did not encounter Ms Stoynoff on the street, nor have any conversation with her. The two are not friends and were never friends or even friendly.Mrs Trump did not encounter Ms Stoynoff on the street, nor have any conversation with her. The two are not friends and were never friends or even friendly.
At the time in question, Mrs Trump would not have even recognized Ms Stoynoff if they had encountered one another on the street.At the time in question, Mrs Trump would not have even recognized Ms Stoynoff if they had encountered one another on the street.
Your publication of the false statements is actionable and gives rise to claims of damages.Your publication of the false statements is actionable and gives rise to claims of damages.
The letter gives the publisher 24 hours to respond:The letter gives the publisher 24 hours to respond:
Failure to do so will require Mrs Trump to consider her legal options.Failure to do so will require Mrs Trump to consider her legal options.
! @people #NatashaStoynoff pic.twitter.com/zXNm6boveP! @people #NatashaStoynoff pic.twitter.com/zXNm6boveP
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.45am BSTat 12.45am BST
11.38pm BST11.38pm BST
23:3823:38
Watch in full: Michelle Obama's speech in Manchester, New HampshireWatch in full: Michelle Obama's speech in Manchester, New Hampshire
Only hours old, this speech is being lauded as one of the most important addresses of this presidential campaign.Only hours old, this speech is being lauded as one of the most important addresses of this presidential campaign.
Give it a watch.Give it a watch.
11.28pm BST11.28pm BST
23:2823:28
Mazin SidahmedMazin Sidahmed
Comedian Rob Delaney has raised tens of thousands of dollars in a bid to oust Republicans who tried to distance themselves from Donald Trump following his recent scandals.Comedian Rob Delaney has raised tens of thousands of dollars in a bid to oust Republicans who tried to distance themselves from Donald Trump following his recent scandals.
Delaney, star of the TV show Catastrophe, established a fund on ActBlue, a fundraising site for the Democratic party, to raise money for opponents of Republicans who retracted their endorsement from Donald Trump in the past week after a recording of Trump making lewd remarks during an Access Hollywood appearance about groping women surfaced.Delaney, star of the TV show Catastrophe, established a fund on ActBlue, a fundraising site for the Democratic party, to raise money for opponents of Republicans who retracted their endorsement from Donald Trump in the past week after a recording of Trump making lewd remarks during an Access Hollywood appearance about groping women surfaced.
The fund has raised $68,294 from 1,176 donors in the four days since its launch.The fund has raised $68,294 from 1,176 donors in the four days since its launch.
“That’s what it took for you to disavow him?” Delaney said in a blogpost announcing the fund titled No Getting Off the Train. “Since I’m not a total moron, I know that what really happened is that it finally became clear to anyone who knows how elections work that Trump was definitely going to lose.“That’s what it took for you to disavow him?” Delaney said in a blogpost announcing the fund titled No Getting Off the Train. “Since I’m not a total moron, I know that what really happened is that it finally became clear to anyone who knows how elections work that Trump was definitely going to lose.
“So the same drive for self-preservation that led these turd balls to endorse him in the first place,” he continued, “has compelled them to pull the ripcord when Access Hollywood revealed their pussy tape and gave them the opportunity to pretend they care about women or something.”“So the same drive for self-preservation that led these turd balls to endorse him in the first place,” he continued, “has compelled them to pull the ripcord when Access Hollywood revealed their pussy tape and gave them the opportunity to pretend they care about women or something.”
11.07pm BST11.07pm BST
23:0723:07
Bill Clinton, responding to questions about allegations against Donald Trump:Bill Clinton, responding to questions about allegations against Donald Trump:
I think my job is to tell people why Hillary should be president. I think Michelle Obama just gave the best speech of the campaign. I have nothing else to say.I think my job is to tell people why Hillary should be president. I think Michelle Obama just gave the best speech of the campaign. I have nothing else to say.
11.03pm BST11.03pm BST
23:0323:03
Donald Trump in 1998: My 'record' with 'the women' is too 'controversial' to be presidentDonald Trump in 1998: My 'record' with 'the women' is too 'controversial' to be president
During a 1998 appearance on CNBC with host Chris Matthews, current Republican presidential nominee and then simple tycoon Donald Trump declared that if Bill Clinton’s personal pecadillos were enough to prompt impeachment proceedings, his own history with women was more than sufficient to keep him out of the White House.During a 1998 appearance on CNBC with host Chris Matthews, current Republican presidential nominee and then simple tycoon Donald Trump declared that if Bill Clinton’s personal pecadillos were enough to prompt impeachment proceedings, his own history with women was more than sufficient to keep him out of the White House.
“Can you imagine how controversial I’d be?” Trump said at the time. “You think about him with the women. How about me with the women? Can you imagine?”“Can you imagine how controversial I’d be?” Trump said at the time. “You think about him with the women. How about me with the women? Can you imagine?”
Trump was still confident that “his women” would be better received by the American public.Trump was still confident that “his women” would be better received by the American public.
“Yeah. They might like my women better, too, you know?”“Yeah. They might like my women better, too, you know?”
10.37pm BST10.37pm BST
22:3722:37
Speaking in Columbus, Ohio, at Columbus Middle School in an address putatively geared towards millennial voters, beleaguered Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump told a raucous crowdSpeaking in Columbus, Ohio, at Columbus Middle School in an address putatively geared towards millennial voters, beleaguered Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump told a raucous crowd
“Our government has been taken hostage by global special interests,” Trump said, reiterating a conspiratorial tone from earlier today that has many observers cautioning against dog-whistling.“Our government has been taken hostage by global special interests,” Trump said, reiterating a conspiratorial tone from earlier today that has many observers cautioning against dog-whistling.
Hillary Clinton, Trump said, is the apex of that corrupt enterprise.Hillary Clinton, Trump said, is the apex of that corrupt enterprise.
“She is a criminal - she is a criminal,” Trump said.“She is a criminal - she is a criminal,” Trump said.
10.27pm BST
22:27
Speaking with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Jessica Leeds, one of the dozen women who have come forward with allegations that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump behaved sexually inappropriately towards them, detailed the incident on-air for the first time.
Leeds told the New York Times in a blockbuster story published last night that Trump fondled her and kissed her while they were seated next to each other in the first-class section of a plane in 1979, an allegation Trump has denied.
“The guy in the seat across the aisle could see,” Leeds told Cooper, but she held out hope for a stewardess to come to stop Trump’s advances. “But she never came.”
Asked where Trump kissed her, Leeds responded: “Wherever he could find a landing spot.”
10.22pm BST
22:22
Donald Trump campaigns in Columbus, Ohio
Watch it live here:
10.03pm BST
22:03
Here’s the full text of comments Hillary Clinton gave the press regarding Donald Trump and cats:
“The whole world has heard Trump brag about how he mistreats women,” Clinton said. “And the disturbing stories just keep coming, but it’s more than just the way he degrades women, as horrible as that is. He has attacked immigrants, African Americans, Latinos, people with disabilities, POWs, Muslims, and our military, which he’s called a disaster. There’s hardly any part of America that he’s not targeted.”
“Now, it makes you want to turn off the news,” Clinton continued. “It makes you want to unplug the internet. Or just look at cat Gifs. I get it… I’ve watched a lot of cats do a lot of weird and interesting things. But we have a job to do and it’ll be good for people and for cats.”
9.52pm BST
21:52
Hillary Clinton, on Donald Trump’s comments today:
It makes you want to unplug the internet or just look at cat gifs.
9.36pm BST
21:36
In other news relating to inappropriate sexual conduct by Republican politicians, a married Louisiana lawmaker has released a bizarre video in which he obliquely apologizes for sending explicit text messages to an underage teenage boy.
Mike Yenni, the president of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana - the state is organized by parishes, rather than counties - admitted to sending “improper texts” to a 17-year-old boy, promising voters that he was “smart enough to never repeat the past.”
“Last summer, I was old enough to know better, but I guess I was still young enough to do something stupid,” the 40-year-old politician said. “I chose to send improper texts to a young man. I made a bad decision. I regret my actions.”
“I apologize to the families involved and anyone I embarrassed, especially my own family,” Yenni continued.
9.19pm BST
21:19
New accusation: Donald Trump allegedly looked up models' skirts
Another woman has joined the chorus of people alleging that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior towards women, after wave of claims about Trump’s alleged sexual transgressions emerged late last night.
According to a report from the Huffington Post, Lisa Boyne, Trump “paraded women in front of their table, looked under women’s skirts, and commented on whether they were wearing underwear” during a dinner in the mid-1990s:
According to Boyne, the group was seated at a semi-circular table, with the women in the middle and Trump and Casablancas flanking either end. The women couldn’t get out of their seats without one of the men getting up - which they refused to do. Instead, Boyne said, Trump insisted that the women walk across the table, allowing him to peer up their skirts while they did so. Trump ‘stuck his head right underneath their skirts,’ Boyne said, and commented on whether they were wearing underwear and what their genitalia looked like.
“It was the most offensive scene I’ve ever been a part of,” Boyne said. “I wanted to get the heck out of there.”
The Trump campaign denied the allegations in a statement to the Huffington Post, as it has denied all the allegations that have surfaced over the past 24 hours.
“Mr. Trump never heard of this woman and would never do that,” spokesperson Hope Hicks said.
9.11pm BST
21:11
A new set of polls from NBC News, the Wall Street Journal and Marist College show a neck-and-neck race for president in Ohio, and a narrow gap in North Carolina, with Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton trailing Republican rival Donald Trump by a single point in Ohio among likely voters, and leading him by four points in North Carolina.
In North Carolina, leads 45% to Trump’s 41%, with Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson trailing at 9%. In Ohio, Trump leads by one point, 42% to Clinton’s 41%, with Johnson at 9% and Green nominee Jill Stein at 4%.
9.03pm BST
21:03
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is hyping Michelle Obama’s widely lauded speech to a group of supporter in New Hampshire earlier today:
Every minute of Michelle Obama’s 30 minute speech today is worth watching. https://t.co/ZlEX3YaU6a
8.52pm BST
20:52
Trump assault allegations aren't new. Why are we only listening now?
Lucia Graves
When I first reported the story of Jill Harth’s sexual assault accusation back in July, I didn’t get a single interview request to talk about it. The radio show I’d already been booked to go on engaged me only briefly, during an hour-long interview, on the matter of a woman accusing the Republican nominee of grabbing her crotch in a child’s bedroom at his Mar-a-Lago estate, before changing the subject.
Even Democratic opposition organizations had made a calculation early in the campaign that it wasn’t strategic to get into personal matters with Trump. Because he had said so many damning things out in the open, it hardly seemed necessary to skewer his personal life.
Harth’s story is a complicated one and her character, like the characters of most living, breathing women, is also complex. But her accusation against Trump was always plausible. She has stood by it for 20 years. Now, finally, Harth’s account and those of women like her are not just gaining traction. They have been placed center stage in the campaign.
Trump addressed crowds on Thursday calling the most recent allegations “slander and libels ... part of a concerted, coordinated, and vicious attack”, while Michelle Obama made a powerful speech on what’s at stake this election. If we don’t vote against Trump, she said at a campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire, “We’re telling our sons that it’s OK to humiliate women”. It’s not just the sexual assault allegations, she explained, though they cannot be marginalized. It’s about Trump’s entire world view. “What’s more, strong men,” Obama said, “men who are truly role models, don’t need to put down women to make themselves feel powerful”.
Women know this. Americans know this. Why then did it take Donald Trump bragging about sexual assault on video for the country to take the claims seriously?
This is an issue that’s come up before this year, and not just on the presidential campaign trail. We didn’t need one woman to come forward against Bill Cosby in order to get society’s attention – we didn’t even need 10 of them to. We needed male comedian Hannibal Buress to make a joke about it. For a lone woman to be heard she seems to require special status. Numerous women have now come out to accuse Roger Ailes, former Fox boss – and current Trump surrogate – of sexual harassment. But they were only empowered to do so after one of the country’s most famous female anchors filed a lawsuit.
8.43pm BST
20:43
Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus is living up to his promise to continue supporting Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the face of a tsunami of crises that threatens to drown every down-ballot Republican in the country.
In an email under the subject line “Attention required:”, Priebus writes to supporters of the Republican Party that “the future of our great country... is at stake in this election. The party that wins the White House, and controls the Senate and the House will determine the course of our nation, from our National Security, to the balance of the Supreme Court, to the future our kids and grandkids will live – it is all on the line just 26 days from now.”
Without naming Trump, Priebus encourages voters to sign up for the Republican National Committee’s “Voter Target Survey” to ensure that the party is “targeting the right people.”
The fact that Priebus is sending out an email asking for survey responses to ensure adequate voter targeting less than four weeks before the general election is a story in and of itself, considering that the RNC held a presser with reporters last fall in which Priebus described the party’s data-gathering and voter-turnout operations as the most sophisticated in Republican history.
No moment like the last moment!