Democratic female lawmakers call for investigation of Trump’s alleged sexual misconduct

Dozens of Democratic lawmakers demanded Tuesday that the House Oversight Committee investigate allegations of sexual harassment lodged against President Trump, saying voters and Mr. Trump deserve to have the truth come out.

The Democratic Women’s Working Group requested the investigation in a letter to committee Chairman Trey Gowdy and ranking Democrat Rep. Elijah Cummings, saying both the president and 17 women who have publicly accused him of bad behavior should have a chance to explain their side.

“Sexual abuse will not be tolerated whether it’s by a hollywood producer, a chef at a restaurant, a member of Congress or the president of the United States. No man or women is above the law,” said Rep. Lois Frankel, a Florida Democrat who heads the working group.

Mr. Growdy rejected the call, saying the alleged crimes involve state law and should be referred to the Justice Department because his committee does not investigate crimes.

“Allegations brought for now or in the future that, while serious, do not allege violations of specific criminal statutes, should be referred to the Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over allegations related to fitness for office and non-criminal matters,” Mr. Gowdy said in his letter addressed to the women’s group.

Lawmakers said the investigation’s immediate goal would be to get at the facts behind the accusations, but didn’t rule out eventual impeachment of Mr. Trump.

“History has shown us that we impeached a president for inappropriate sexual behavior in the past,” said Rep. Brenda Lawrence, Michigan Democrat.

In their letter, which the women said was also signed by a number of male lawmakers, the Democrats said Mr. Trump should have a chance to defend himself, but said his own past statements appear to bolster the women’s accounts.

“The president has boasted in public and in crude terms that he feels at liberty to perpetrate such conduct against women. Subsequently, Mr. Trump apologized and called it ’locker room talk.’ He has since called all his accusers liars,” they said in the letter.

Mr. Cummings, the top Democrat on the committee, had urged Mr. Gowdy to accept the challenge.

“Congress is in the midst of a critical and long-overdue examination of allegations against its own members — both before and after they were elected to Congress,” he said. “The Oversight Committee is charged with examining similar allegations against executive branch employees and the president.”