Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is continuing to beat the drum on the accusations against President Donald Trump. And despite, or maybe in spite of, the attacks against her, the New York Democrat is adamant that the president should resign.
“I’m not going to be silenced on this issue,” Gillibrand told “Today,” when asked about Trump’s criticism of her focus on the allegations. “I’ve heard the testimony of many women, numerous accusers. I believe them. And he should resign for that. I think Congress should do an investigation because we need accountability. And women aren’t going to be silenced right now.”
Gillibrand added a reference to Doug Jones’ upset victory over Roy Moore in the Alabama special election, noting that “as we just saw in Alabama, women are not going to be silenced. African-American women are not going to be silenced. And they came out in numbers.”
“He should resign for that…women aren’t going to be silenced right now.” @SenGillibrand talks Trump and his sexual misconduct accusers pic.twitter.com/KJBQcIhIyE
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 13, 2017
On Tuesday, Gillibrand was the target of a sexist tweet by Trump, who implied that she had performed sexual favors for campaign contributions.
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 if she interpreted the tweet this way, Gillibrand told NBC, “Certainly that’s how I and many people read it. And it was certainly just a sexist smear intended to silence me.”
In response to the outrage over Trump’s sexist attack of Gillibrand, the Republican National Committee attempted to shift the narrative by spreading opposition research points about Gillibrand.
Inbox: "The Gillibrand Grift."
The RNC blasts out its opposition research points on Sen. Gillibrand after Trump's sexually suggestive tweet about her.
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) December 12, 2017
The RNC's hits on Sen. Gillibrand are that she has shifted positions on a number of issues, which she has.
So has Trump.
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) December 12, 2017
Not all Republicans have sided with Trump in his attack on Gillibrand. One of the Republicans who was part of the bipartisan Bible study group in which Gillibrand participates — and where she was when she first learned of Trump’s tweet — has publicly defended her from the smear.
“Our leaders should focus on the issues, not personal attacks,” Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., told Politico in a statement.
Six Democratic senators have so far called for Trump to resign over the multiple accusations of sexual misconduct against women: Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Ron Wyden of Oregon.
