The woman who says she was groped by Justin Trudeau in 2000 has come forward to reiterate the allegation, in a statement issued to Canadian media on Friday.
Rose Knight, a former journalist, says she was inappropriately touched by the man who is the current prime minister of Canada. At the time of the alleged incident, Trudeau was a teacher and the son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. (RELATED: Trudeau Changes Story On Groping Allegation)
“I issue this statement reluctantly, in response to mounting media pressure to confirm that I was the reporter who was the subject of the Open Eyes editorial, published in the Creston Valley Advance in August of 2000,” Knight wrote.
“The incident referred to in the editorial did occur, as reported. Mr. Trudeau did apologize the next day. I did not pursue the incident at the time and will not be pursuing the incident further. I have had no subsequent contact with Mr. Trudeau, before or after he became Prime Minister.”
Knight, who no longer is a reporter, says she doesn’t intend to say more about her experience.
“The debate, if it continues, will continue without my involvement,” she said.
Trudeau has been evasive in his responses to the allegation, first saying nothing, then saying there was no “negative interaction” on the day in question, finally suggesting Knight was “not entirely comfortable” with the experience.
On Friday, according to a CBC News report, Trudeau again commented on the accusation.
“Over the past weeks, since this news resurfaced, I’ve been reflecting, we’ve all been reflecting, on past behaviors,” he said. “And as I’ve said, I’m confident I didn’t act inappropriately, but I think the essence of this is people can experience interactions differently and part of the lesson we need to learn in this moment of collective awakening … people in many cases, women, experience interactions in professional contexts and other contexts differently than men.”