Actress Heather Lind says George H. W. Bush sexually assaulted her when he twice grabbed her behind and told her a dirty joke, all of it under Barbara’s watchful eye. From the Daily Mail:
Heather Lind, 34, who starred in AMC's series 'Turn: Washington's Spies', made the allegations against the 93-year-old former president on Instagram in a lengthy post with accompanying photos.
'When I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo. He didn't shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke,' Lind alleges.
She said he reached up and grabbed her behind, not once, but twice.
Lind said in her since-deleted Instagram post it happened a second time: 'And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again. Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say ''not again''. His security guard told me I shouldn't have stood next to him for the photo.
GHWB’s spokesperson apologized in a statement to the Daily Mail:
In a statement to DailyMail.com the former president responded: 'President Bush would never - under any circumstance - intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind.'
Lind deleted the Instagram post after it took off, but a quick peek at comments on her other photos shows a wide variety of abusive comments. This is the reality women face when coming forward.
- kajackson2144 This absurd and ridiculous charge against an elderly Parkinson's-laden wheelchair-bound dementia patient erodes the voice of authentic cases of sexual harassment and assault. This cheapens every woman hence that comes forward because she is less likely to be believed. If this is the worst example you could muster of being "inappropriately" touched, then consider yourself extremely fortunate. I certainly cannot say the same nor can other women who truly are victims of sexual assault
- truth_for_america Seriously know one knows who you are, so you claim assult? Let me guess the Weinstein company will produce your next project? How may did you go down on to get where you are? So instead of "touch me", what happened in front of everyone? Humm let's see talking a photo arm and hand gos behind you. It sure doesn't look like grab ass, so touched your back. Ohh yea sexually assult. Go give Harvey another 1/2 and 1/2 paid prostitute.
- dee_genc You are an absolute disgrace. Shame on you for seeking to tarnish the reputation of a 94 year old man. Your actions undermine the legitimacy of real sexual assault victims. What’s more, if our former president’s hand did brush you, did you ever consider that he if suffering from Parkinson’s, and likely dementia as well?! A 94 year old elderly gentleman suffering from dementia cannot be held accountable for his actions. I can promise you he was certainly not looking for fine “action”. If this is the worst you’ve ever experienced by way of sexual harassment, consider yourself very lucky. And if you’ve been fortunate enough to not witness a family member suffer from dementia, consider yourself even luckier. You’re absolutely disgusting, you pig. Good luck living with yourself.
That’s only a taste of what Lind is now facing. She told her co-stars and AMC staff about the incident at the time it happened. This is absolutely the kind of backlash women face when they come forward with stories of sexual assault. Be a good girl and keep you mouth shut! Why are you trying to ruin a good man?
If you are thinking about defending the conduct of George H.W. Bush in the comments below, let me stop you now. At no age in your life do you have the right to touch a woman’s private parts. Not as a former president, not after a dirty joke, not in front of your wife, not ever. Being a dirty old man isn’t cute. At all. Knock it off and keep your hands to yourself.