Following an allegation of sexual assault, former US president George H.W. Bush has apologised to actress Heather Lind who claimed he sexually assaulted her from his wheelchair.
The 34-year-old Boardwalk Empire star alleged in an Instagram post which has since been deleted that Bush groped her when they met at a TV screening in 2014.
She claimed Mr Bush “didn’t shake my hand” and “touched me from behind from his wheelchair” while his wife Barbara stood by his side, adding that, ‘I do not respect him‘.
Lind said Mr Bush then “told me a dirty joke” and touched her again while they were photographed.
In her Instagram post, Lind said: “It seems to me a president’s power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy. Mr Bush relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me.”
“What comforts me is that I too can use my power, which isn’t so different from a president really. I can enact positive change. I can actually help people. I can be a symbol of my democracy. I can refuse to call him president, and call out other abuses of power when I see them”, the post added.
The star added: “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.”
However, a spokesperson for Mr Bush in defence of the allegation said the former president “would never under any circumstance intentionally cause anyone distress“, adding that he “most sincerely apologises if his attempt at humour offended Ms Lind“.
Lind’s allegation comes amidst continuous allegations of sexual impropriety and rape levied against disgraced movie producer, Harvey Weinstein by a string of Hollywood stars.
Lind revealed she was inspired by “the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences“, and also said she was moved to act after seeing pictures of 93-year-old Bush and Barack Obama shaking hands at a fundraiser last week.
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