President Donald Trump said he believes disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction a day earlier is a “great victory” for women.
Trump, who has been publicly accused of sexual misconduct by nearly two dozen women, was asked during a news conference in New Delhi on Tuesday whether “justice was served” in Weinstein’s case. Jurors in
New York City on Monday found Weinstein guilty of two felony sex crimes, including third-degree rape. He was acquitted on two charges of predatory sexual assault and one charge of first-degree rape.
“I was never a fan of Harvey Weinstein,” Trump said during his visit to India. “In fact, he said he was going to work hard to defeat me in the election. How did that work out by the way? I’m trying to figure that out. ... I knew him a little bit ― not very well. I knew him because he was in New York. Not a person that I like.” Trump added that he isn’t too familiar with Weinstein’s trial but that he knows
Democrats have accepted money from him and questioned whether they would give it back in light of the conviction. (Many high-profile Democrats announced they would return political contributions they received from Weinstein following the flood of sexual assault allegations against him in 2017.)
Another reporter chimed in to say that Weinstein’s conviction is being viewed as a “milestone for the Me Too movement” and asked Trump what message he, as president, can send to women who are still afraid to share their stories of sexual harassment and assault.
“I haven’t seen too much because I’ve been in
India,” Trump said. “But I think, from the standpoint of women, it was a great thing. It was a great victory. It sends a very strong message ― a very, very strong message.”President Trump on
Harvey Weinstein verdict: "I think from the standpoint of women it was a great thing." https://t.co/tEOC6eQBKCpic.twitter.com/AcxRCGrvVy— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 25, 2020At least 20 women have accused Trump of sexual harassment or assault, including forced kissing and unwanted groping. Author E. Jean Carroll alleged Trump raped her in the dressing room of a department store in Manhattan in the mid-1990s. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
Carroll filed a lawsuit last month seeking a sample of Trump’s DNA in an effort to determine whether his genetic material is on a dress she wore during the alleged sexual assault. Trump’s legal team has sought to delay the request.
As Weinstein was removed from the courtroom in handcuffs on Monday, some wondered whether Trump would ever be prosecuted for similar allegations made against him.
“Weinstein is going to
prison for sexual assault,” author and activist Amy Siskind tweeted on Monday. “Hopefully Trump isn’t far behind him.”
Watch Trump’s full news conference in New Delhi below:Related... 'This Is Taking Out The Trash': Rose McGowan Shares Powerful Message After Weinstein Verdict Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty Of Rape And Sexual Assault