House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Wednesday said that the issue of sexual harassment is a “disgrace” and that it will be taken seriously but when asked about Donald Trump’s 16 accusers, he dodged that question. Apparently, Ryan isn’t really taking allegations of sexual harassment seriously.
“Sexual harassment has no place in any workplace, let alone in the United States Congress,” Ryan told reporters during a news conference. “The fact that some people walking these halls are subjected to a threatening or hostile work environment when they came here to serve their country, to serve their ideals, that’s wrong.”
“That’s a disgrace,” he added.
That’s when a reporter asked Ryan whether he and other lawmakers should speak out about Trump’s 16 accusers who claim they were subjected to sexual harassment or assault, according to The Hill.
“Right now, we’re focused on making sure this place works the right way,” Ryan replied.
Among Trump’s accusers is Jessica Leeds, who has accused the former reality show star of grabbing her breasts and trying to put his hand up her skirt during a plane ride.
When she spoke about it last year, Trump denied it and said Ms. Leeds was not attractive enough for him to have assaulted her. “Believe me,” he said. “She would not be my first choice.”
Trump was accused of sexual misconduct during his awful campaign, then the world witnessed the Access Hollywood tape in which he said he could sexually assault women because he’s powerful. Harvey Weinstein believed the same thing, by the way. Still, conservatives voted Trump into power and after revelations about Weinstein, there is a flood of women who feel empowered to say that they, too, have been victims.
But according to Paul Ryan, none of those women matter because a Republican did it. Party before country, after all.
Image via screen capture.
