I was groped by Bush Snr as he sat in wheelchair
Actor forces apology from former president over sleazy attack claim
FORMER US president George HW Bush has been forced to apologise to a film star who accused him of groping her in front of his wife.
Heather Lind claims he touched her “from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara by his side,” told her a “dirty joke,” then touched her again.
The actor claims Bush “sexually assaulted” her four years ago as she posed for a photo with him while promoting the TV show Turn: Washington’s Spies.
She made the accusations in a now-deleted Instagram post after seeing a photo of Barack Obama with the 41st president.
Heather wrote: “I found it disturbing because I recognise 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 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.
“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.”
Heather, 34, claimed Barbara “rolled her eyes as if to say ‘not again.’”
According to her, a security guard told her she “shouldn’t have stood next to him for the photo”.
A spokesman for Bush, now 93, said the former president might have erred in his “attempt at humour”.
He said: “President Bush would never – under any circumstance – intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologises if his attempt at humour offended Ms Lind.”
Heather, who played Anna Strong in the drama about “America’s first spy ring,” met the former president during a special screening of the show in 2014, a week before its premiere. Lind said she decided to come forward because of “the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences”.
Her allegation came after dozens of women accused movie production boss Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and harassment.