Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Kaine believes Donald Trump’s crude comments about women are not just words, but an indication that the Republican presidential nominee engaged in a “pattern of sexual assault.”
The Virginia senator took issue with the insufficiency of Mr. Trump’s apology, saying the New York businessman still has a lot to answer for at the second presidential debate on Sunday night.
“His statement trying to say, ’Look, I regret these words’ — it’s not just words, it really is talking about a pattern of sexual assault,” Mr. Kaine said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “I can’t imagine that undecided voters that are part of this town hall will not want to hear him explain why he thought that was acceptable behavior.”
Mr. Kaine said he was not sure how Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton would address the remarks at the debate.
“Well, I don’t exactly know what she’s going to say about it during the debate,” Mr. Kaine said. “I imagine some of the undecided voters who are a part of this town hall forum will have questions about it, and I really think it’s for Donald Trump to try to answer it and take responsibility.”
The 2005 remarks were captured on a hot mic as the reality TV personality was making a cameo on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” They depict Mr. Trump describing in lewd language the sexually aggressive behavior he can engage in due to his celebrity status.
“When you’re a star,” Mr. Trump said, women will let you “do anything.”
He later apologized for the comments, calling them “locker room banter.”
• Bradford Richardson can be reached at brichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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