Trump Hosts Last-Minute, Pre-Debate Panel With Women Accusing Bill Clinton of Sexual Assault

Donald Trump held a last minute panel ahead of Sunday's debate with women who spoke of their distrust of the Clintons.

Donald Trump at the first presidential debate.
Image via Getty Images/Michael Bocchieri
Donald Trump at the first presidential debate.

Donald Trump on Sunday held a panel in St. Louis, Missouri with four women with ties to Hillary and Bill Clinton, and who spoke of their distrust of the family. That included Juanita Broaddrick, who claims Bill Clinton raped her in the 1970s (though he was never formally charged), and Kathy Shelton, who was sexually assaulted in 1975 and whose assaulter was represented by Hillary Clinton (then unmarried).

It was an unexpected event held just two hours before Trump faces off against Clinton in the second presidential debate.

 

"These four very courageous women have asked to be here, and it is our honor to help them," Trump says. It's worth noting that, in 1998, Trump called Paula Jones--in attendance at Trump's press conference Sunday evening--a "loser."

"At 12 years old, Hillary put me through something that you would never put a 12-year-old through," Shelton said. "She says she's for women and children," but claims that Clinton laughed on tape when asked if Shelton's assaulter was guilty.

Broaddrick, who has maintained for years that Bill Clinton raped her in the late 1970s, says that while Trump uses "bad words," Clinton's "actions" speak louder. “Bill Clinton raped me, and Hillary Clinton threatened me,” she said.

It was also reported Sunday evening that Broaddrick would be in the debate audience with Paula Jones and Kathleen Willey on Sunday night.

Hillary Clinton's communications director Jim Palmieri released a statement Sunday evening saying that the staff is "not surprised" to see Trump "continue his destructive race to the bottom," calling his press conference a "stunt."

Trump was also on record in 1999 saying that Hillary Clinton has gone through "more than any woman should have to bear," referring to Bill Clinton's affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

The second presidential debate is at 9 p.m. EST on Sunday night.  

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