This article is from the source 'bbc' 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 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41766987
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
George Bush Senior's second apology after sex assault claims | George Bush Senior's second apology after sex assault claims |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Former US President George Bush Senior has issued a second apology to "anyone he has offended" after a second allegation of sexual assault emerged. | Former US President George Bush Senior has issued a second apology to "anyone he has offended" after a second allegation of sexual assault emerged. |
Actress Jordana Grolnick told US website Deadspin Mr Bush groped her in 2016 after announcing his favourite magician was "David Cop-a-Feel". | Actress Jordana Grolnick told US website Deadspin Mr Bush groped her in 2016 after announcing his favourite magician was "David Cop-a-Feel". |
Another actress, Heather Lind, had already come forward to say the former president had "touched me from behind". | Another actress, Heather Lind, had already come forward to say the former president had "touched me from behind". |
Mr Bush's spokesman said it was supposed to put people "at ease". | Mr Bush's spokesman said it was supposed to put people "at ease". |
"At age 93, President Bush has been confined to a wheelchair for roughly five years, so his arm falls on the lower waist of people with whom he takes pictures," the spokesman said in a statement supplied to media outlets. | "At age 93, President Bush has been confined to a wheelchair for roughly five years, so his arm falls on the lower waist of people with whom he takes pictures," the spokesman said in a statement supplied to media outlets. |
"To try to put people at ease, the president routinely tells the same joke - and on occasion, he has patted women's rears in what he intended to be a good-natured manner. | |
"Some have seen it as innocent; others clearly view it as inappropriate. To anyone he has offended, President Bush apologises most sincerely." | "Some have seen it as innocent; others clearly view it as inappropriate. To anyone he has offended, President Bush apologises most sincerely." |
Like Ms Lind, Ms Grolnick shared a photo of the moment the alleged assault took place on social media platform Instagram. | Like Ms Lind, Ms Grolnick shared a photo of the moment the alleged assault took place on social media platform Instagram. |
The picture, taken during the interval of a play Ms Grolnick was performing in, appears to show Mr Bush's hand on her bottom. | The picture, taken during the interval of a play Ms Grolnick was performing in, appears to show Mr Bush's hand on her bottom. |
She told Deadspin: "He reached his right hand around to my behind, and as we smiled for the photo he asked the group, 'Do you want to know who my favourite magician is?' | She told Deadspin: "He reached his right hand around to my behind, and as we smiled for the photo he asked the group, 'Do you want to know who my favourite magician is?' |
"As I felt his hand dig into my flesh, he said, 'David Cop-a-Feel!'" | "As I felt his hand dig into my flesh, he said, 'David Cop-a-Feel!'" |
Ms Lind made a similar allegation against Mr Bush, who served one term as president starting in 1989, saying he had "touched me from behind from his wheelchair" and told a "dirty joke" while posing for a photo in an Instagram post which has since been deleted. | Ms Lind made a similar allegation against Mr Bush, who served one term as president starting in 1989, saying he had "touched me from behind from his wheelchair" and told a "dirty joke" while posing for a photo in an Instagram post which has since been deleted. |
The incident allegedly took place during an event in 2014 for the television show Turn: Washington's Spies, in which Ms Lind is one of the main cast members. | The incident allegedly took place during an event in 2014 for the television show Turn: Washington's Spies, in which Ms Lind is one of the main cast members. |
Ms Lind finished her post with the hashtag #metoo, which has seen widespread use by victims of sexual assault to share their experiences in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein Hollywood scandal. | Ms Lind finished her post with the hashtag #metoo, which has seen widespread use by victims of sexual assault to share their experiences in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein Hollywood scandal. |
In his initial apology, Mr Bush's spokesman said the wheelchair-bound former president "most sincerely apologises if his attempt at humour offended Ms Lind". | In his initial apology, Mr Bush's spokesman said the wheelchair-bound former president "most sincerely apologises if his attempt at humour offended Ms Lind". |
Mr Bush, the father of George W Bush, who served two terms in the office between 2001 and 2009, suffers from a form of Parkinson's disease. | Mr Bush, the father of George W Bush, who served two terms in the office between 2001 and 2009, suffers from a form of Parkinson's disease. |
Previous version
1
Next version