Former US President George HW Bush has apologised after an actress accused him of sexually assaulting her from his wheelchair.
Heather Lind, who starred in US drama Turn: Washington’s Spies, made the allegations against the 93-year-old in a now-deleted Instagram post.
“When I got the chance to meet George HW 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,” she wrote.
“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.”
“Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say ‘not again.’ His security guard told me I shouldn’t have stood next to him for the photo.”
Ms Lind met the 41st President during a special screening of her TV show in 2014, a week before its official release.
“We were instructed to call him Mr President. It seems to me a President’s power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy.
“He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me.
“What comforts me is that I too can use my power, which isn’t so different from a President really.
“I can enact positive change. I can actually help people. I can be a symbol of my democracy. I can refuse to call him President, and call out other abuses of power when I see them. I can vote for a President, in part, by the nature of his or her character, knowing that his or her political decisions must necessarily stem from that character.”
Responding to the allegations, a spokesperson for President Bush said: “President Bush would never — under any circumstance — intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humour offended Ms. Lind.”
Ms Lind said she had decided to speak out about the alleged sexual assault following the “bravery” of other women in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
The 34-year-old said she had been left “disturbed” at seeing Barack Obama pictured with the single term President at a fundraiser for hurricane victims in Texas.
“I thank President Barack Obama for the gesture of respect he made toward George HW Bush for the sake of our country, but I do not respect him,” she said.
