Heather Lind News: George H.W. Bush Apologizes for 'Attempt at Humor' Amid Sexual Harassment Claims
George H.W. Bush issued an apology after actress Heather Lind claimed she was a victim of sexual harassment from the 41st U.S. president.
Heather Lind's Sexual Assault Claims
Recently, Lind came forward and shared -- in a now-deleted social media post -- that Bush had inappropriately touched her during an event to promote their AMC drama series "Turn: Washington's Spies."
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"He sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo," Lind recalled. She added: "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. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again."
Lind also recalled being told by Bush's security guard that she should not have stood beside the former President for the photo.
Even though Lind has since taken down her original post chronicling the alleged sexual assault, people are still flocking to her social media page to criticize her while some implied that she was faking her story.
Meanwhile, Lind's co-stars who were present when the incident happened four years ago rallied behind her to attest that they were there and that Lind's claims were "true" and "100% accurate."
Bush's camp has responded to Lind's claims. Jim McGrath, Bush's spokesperson, said in a statement: "President Bush would never — under any circumstance — intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind."
Jordana Grolnick Tells Same Experience From George H.W. Bush
Shortly after Lind's story broke, actress Jordana Grolnick also claimed that Bush had inappropriately touched her in 2016 while she was part of the production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
Grolnick recalled Bush went backstage to take a photo with some of the female cast members. She then narrated: "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!'"
Following Grolnick's claims, McGrath issued a second statement explaining: "At age 93, President Bush has been confined to a wheelchair for roughly five years, so his arm falls on the lower waist of people with whom he takes pictures. To try to put people at ease, the president routinely tells the same joke — and on occasion, he has patted women's rears in what he intended to be a good-natured manner."
Meanwhile, two more women have come forward and shared their own experiences with the former president. One of them is a novelist while the other was a former Republican state Senate candidate.
