Yesterday we reported the growing scandal around former US president George H.W. Bush, who was accused by an actress of groping her during a photoshoot back in 2014. Heather Lind accused Bush of having “sexually assaulted” her from his wheelchair after telling a “dirty joke”.
Bush apologised in general terms for what happened, not referring to the alleged groping and focusing on the alleged joke. “President Bush would never — under any circumstance — intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologises if his attempt at humour offended Ms. Lind.”
Well, his office has issued a follow-up statement which… absolutely does not make the situation better! At all!
https://twitter.com/SteveKopack/status/923332691298324481
So in case his original, very generalised statement wasn’t clear, Bush confirms that his idea of a joke is to “pat womens’ rears” in a “good-natured manner”. Truly, a wonderful way to “put people at ease” is to grab their ass.
A report in Deadspin alleges that a second woman has accused Bush of groping her too. This is quite possibly why a second statement was issued. The article outlines Jordana Grolnick‘s accusation:
“We all circled around him and Barbara for a photo, and I was right next to him,” she says. “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 favorite magician is?’ As I felt his hand dig into my flesh, he said, ‘David Cop-a-Feel!’”
Grolnick says others in the room “laughed politely and out of discomfort.” Former first lady Barbara Bush was among those nearby. “[She] said something along the lines of, ‘He’s going to get himself put into jail!’ to which we laughed harder,” Grolnick says.
People on Twitter are… perplexed by the apology.
That George H.W. Bush statement… pic.twitter.com/fE6IXlffY3
— Kevin Grüssing (Pronounced Grew-sing) (🔜MomoCon) (@KevDGrussing) October 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/tweetPollTroll/status/923347442468360192
https://twitter.com/ervinTE/status/923342801152151553
https://twitter.com/mehreenkasana/status/923342130898178049
What the entire fuck is this H.W. Bush statement
— Hood Pass Cody Rhodes (@NotBrockJahnke) October 25, 2017
Yeeeeeah. Not a good look for George Bush senior, hey?
