The drama between Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and President Donald Trump has reached absurd heights. First, there was that rather tweet from the president, which was not out of the ordinary. He accused Gillibrand of doing “anything” for campaign contributions. Gillibrand said this was a sexist smear, despite the president using that line on pretty much everyone.
This all is part of the ongoing sexual harassment reckoning on the Hill and elsewhere. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) is gone, and Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) has signaled his intention to leave…whenever that may be. Gillibrand has called on Trump to resign, as has Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) over his allegations of sexual misconduct. A deluge of House Democrats have called on the House Oversight Committee to investigate these claims.
Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office “begging” for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2017
When asked by the press about Gillibrand and Hirono’s calls for Trump to resign, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said that the committee, presumably House Oversight, should allow an investigation to go forward and the defamation lawsuit filed by Summer Zervos against the president should be allowed to go forward, and let due process work. When asked again if Trump should resign, Pelosi said, “I don't think he ever should have been president,” which was met with laughter.
Should Pres. Trump resign? "I don't think he ever should have been president," @NancyPelosi says. https://t.co/zxoXIWnCrv pic.twitter.com/jStTA7kgEy
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) December 12, 2017
Again, this isn’t a come to Jesus moment. Franken and Conyers were tossed, so Democrats could re-direct their pressure and attacks on Trump without the hypocrisy. Yet, Democrats still have to deal with the legacy of tolerating Bill Clinton and the credible rape allegations against him. We all knew this was a possibility when the dam broke with Franken and nearly the entire Senate Democratic Caucus called for him to go. This isn’t reclaiming the high ground; this is politics, but you all knew that.
Reporters who follow me, I beg you to examine your assumptions about Trump's attack on Gillibrand. Maybe it was sexual, but that's an inference. Per @bethanyshondark, this is a stock phrase he's used with men. pic.twitter.com/PDnOj84ZDT
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) December 12, 2017
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