News

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand calls on Trump to resign over sexual assault allegations

Written by : IANS

Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York has called on President Donald Trump to resign over allegations of sexual assault, the media reported.

"President Trump has committed assault, according to these women, and those are very credible allegations of misconduct and criminal activity, and he should be fully investigated and he should resign," the senator told CNN on Monday night.

"These allegations are credible; they are numerous... I've heard these women's testimony, and many of them are heartbreaking," said Gillibrand, a leading voice in Congress for combating sexual assault in the military.

If he does not "immediately resign," she said, Congress "should have appropriate investigations of his behaviour and hold him accountable".

A group of women who have publicly accused Donald Trump of sexual harassment and assault, have detailed their accounts of being groped, fondled and forcibly kissed by the US President, the media reported.

"This was serial misconduct and perversion on the part of Trump. Unfortunately, this behaviour isn't rare in our society, and people of all backgrounds can be victims. The only reason I am here today is that this offender is now the President of our country," Rachel Crooks, a former Bayrock Group receptionist who accused the President of kissing her on the mouth without her consent in 2005, said at a press conference on Monday.

Samantha Holvey, the former Miss North Carolina 2006 who has accused Trump of inspecting beauty pageant contestants, and Jessica Leeds, who said the President of grabbing her chest and attempting to move his hand up her skirt on a flight, also appeared with Crooks at the conference, reports CNN.

Brave New Films, a production company that released a film on the women who have accused Trump of sexual assault, hosted the event.

At least 15 women have come forward with a wide range of accusations against Trump, ranging from sexual harassment and sexual assault to lewd behaviour around women. 

On Monday, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon also called on Trump to resign in a tweet, encouraging Capitol Hill to investigate.

"These women are right. If @realDonaldTrump won't resign, Congress must investigate allegations by many, many women that he sexually assaulted and harassed them. No one is above the law," he tweeted.

Gillibrand told CNN: "Not only should women be heard, but they should be believed."

On Sunday, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said that Trump's accusers "should be heard".

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders responded to Haley's comments at a news briefing on Monday, where she reiterated that Trump "thinks it's a good thing that women are coming forward" but noted that he denies the allegations.

In Holenarsipura, Deve Gowda family’s dominance ensures no one questions Prajwal

A decade lost: How LGBTQIA+ rights fared under BJP govt and the way forward

JD(S) leader alleges Prajwal Revanna threatened with gun, sexually assaulted her for 3 years

Telangana police closes Rohith Vemula file, absolves former V-C and BJP leaders

Who spread unblurred videos of women? SIT probe on Prajwal Revanna must find