Former President George H.W. Bush has apologized for what actress Heather Lind is describing as a 2014 sexual assault.
According to The Daily Mail, Bush aides issued the following statement in response to queries about the incident: “President Bush would never — under any circumstance — intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind.”
But Lind, best-known for her role in the AMC production “Turned: Washington’s Spies,” says Bush repeatedly “touched me from behind” and “sexually assaulted me” at a March 2014 photo op. Lind made the accusations in an Instagram post is no longer up but which the Financial Post captured as saying she was “disturbed” by a photo that depicted Bush and former president Barack Obama together as they pledged to work to raise money for states affected by the recent spate of hurricanes off the Atlantic coast.
“I found it disturbing because I recognize the respect ex-presidents are given for having served. And I feel pride and reverence toward many of the men in the photo.”
“But when I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo.
“He didn’t shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again,” Lind wrote.
The actress says Barbara Bush “rolled her eyes” while George Bush allegedly touched her.
Lind’s post was included under the #metoo hashtag that followed the string of sexual assault and harassment allegations leveled against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. It is being used by some women to level accusations of sexual misconduct against men.