It was reported on Friday that Hillary Clinton covered up for a longtime friend and campaign aide who was accused of sexually harassing a female staffer on her 2008 presidential campaign, but she avoided the bombshell revelation in her first public comments after the story broke.
Clinton tweeted a thank you to Cecile Richards, the former president of the pro-abortion group Planned Parenthood, for her “tireless advocacy on behalf of women and girls.”
Unmentioned in the tweet was Richards’ advocacy for abortion. An estimated 3.5 million abortions have been conducted by Planned Parenthood during Richards’ 12-year stint as the group’s leader. She is stepping down to pursue other opportunities. (RELATED: Hillary Clinton Shielded Sexual Harasser On Her Campaign)
Also unmentioned in the tweet are aforementioned allegations of sexual misconduct against Burns Strider, a political operative who has been described as Clinton’s faith adviser.
The New York Times reported that Strider repeatedly sexually harassed a 30-year-old female campaign staffer on Clinton’s 2008 campaign.
Strider, who co-founded a group called American Values Network, allegedly touched the woman inappropriately and sent her sexually suggestive emails.
His actions were so disturbing that Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle and other senior campaign officials requested that Strider be fired from the campaign.
But Clinton refused, siding with her friend, much to the frustration of campaign officials.
According to The Times, Strider was sent to counseling and docked several weeks pay.
The staffer received a harsher sentence. She was reassigned within the campaign and forced to sign a nondisclosure agreement.
Strider, who was married at the time of the incidents, later joined Correct the Record, an opposition research group founded by Clinton ally David Brock. Strider was fired from that group because of allegations similar to those he faced on the campaign.
Clinton’s State Department emails showed that she was in frequent contact with Strider while she served as secretary of state.
Clinton, who has claimed to be an advocate for women and a supporter of the #MeToo movement, was also friends with Harvey Weinstein.
Dozens of women have accused Weinstein of sexual assault, harassment and misconduct. The allegations sparked the #MeToo movement.
Bill Clinton has also been accused of sexual assault and harassment.