Former President George H.W. Bush apologizes for having 'patted women's rears' after 2 women complain

George H.W. Bush accused of groping women
(Image credit: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, actress Heather Lind said in an Instagram post, since deleted, that when she met former President George. H.W. Bush four years ago, "he sexually assaulted me. ... 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." On Wednesday night, another actress, Jordana Grolnick, told her "entirely similar" Bush story to Deadspin, revealing the "dirty joke" Bush apparently tells with some regularity.

After a play in August 2016, Grolnick said, Bush came backstage in his wheelchair and "we all circled around him and Barbara for a photo. ... He reached his right hand around to my behind, and as we smiled for the photo he asked the group, 'Do you want to know who my favorite magician is?' As I felt his hand dig into my flesh, he said, 'David Cop-a-Feel!'"

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.