GOP presidential hopeful Ted Cruz’s running mate Carly Fiorina said Friday that Donald Trump’s touting of an endorsement from Mike Tyson “says a lot” about the Republican front-runner’s character.
Mr. Tyson, a former heavyweight boxing champion who was convicted in 1992 for raping an 18-year-old beauty pageant contestant, officially endorsed Mr. Trump for president in October. On Wednesday, the business mogul bragged that “all the tough guys” support him.
“But Mike said: ’I love Trump. I endorse Trump,’” Mr. Trump told supporters in Indiana, where the 1991 rape occurred. “And that’s the end. I’m sure he doesn’t know about your economic situation in Indiana, but when I get endorsed by the tough ones, I like it, because you know what? We need toughness now. We need toughness.”
Standing alongside Mr. Cruz on Friday, Ms. Fiorina said she didn’t consider “a convicted rapist a tough guy,” Politico reported.
“And I think it says a lot about Donald Trump’s campaign and his character that he is standing up and cheering for an endorsement by Mike Tyson,” she added.
Conservative Indianapolis radio host Greg Garrison, who was the lead prosecutor in the rape case, also criticized Mr. Trump for the comments.
“A tough one. Well, Mr. Trump, tough is one thing. A serial rapist is quite something else,” Mr. Garrison said, Politico reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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