One by one, the women defended Trump, denounced Clinton and criticized Hillary Clinton, Trump's Democratic opponent.
"Mr. Trump may have said some bad words," said Juanita Broaddrick. "But Bill Clinton raped me. And Hillary Clinton threatened me. I don’t think there’s any comparison."
Broaddrick has previously said Clinton raped her in 1978, an accusation was never adjudicated and did not emerge publicly until 21 years later.
The statement that Hillary "threatened" her is a reference to a conversation the two had shortly after the encounter she has said she had with Bill. At a political event, Hillary Clinton thanked Broaddrick, who had volunteered for Bill Clinton's campaign for Arkansas governor. Broaddrick has said she felt Hillary was thanking her for not exposing Bill. Clinton has said she doesn't remember the conversation.
It quickly became apparent that Trump's media event, no more than a few minutes long, was designed to help draw attention from his own flailing campaign after dozens of Republicans rescinded their support of him over a 2005 video in which he talks about taking advantage of his celebrity to grope women.
Trump has repeatedly pointed to allegations against Bill Clinton as his own history with women has been scrutinized during the campaign.
When the event ended, a reporter shouted at Trump, "Why did you say you touch women without their consent?"
He didn't respond, but Paula Jones, a former Arkansas state employee who accused Bill Clinton of sexually harassing her in 1991, replied, "Why don’t you go ask Bill Clinton that? Ask Hillary as well."
Jones' lawsuit against Clinton was settled for $850,000 without any admission of wrongdoing.
Kathleen Willey, who accused Clinton of groping her in the White House in 1993, was also with Trump.
Also next to Trump was Kathy Shelton. Hillary Clinton, in her work as a defense lawyer, represented a man charged with raping Shelton when she was 12.
"Hillary put me through something you would never put a 12-year-old through," Shelton said.
Clinton did not volunteer to take the case, which resulted in a plea bargain.
"You went through a lot," Trump replied.
"Yes, sir, I did," she said.
Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri issued a statement saying, “We’re not surprised to see Donald Trump continue his destructive race to the bottom."
Palmieri added, "As always, [Clinton is] prepared to handle whatever Donald Trump throws her way.”
SOURCE:LATIMES
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