Bush Snr says sorry for the ‘joke’ grope that backfired
Actress, 34, accuses former president, 93, of touching her behind while in his wheelchair in photoshoot
By Nick Allen in Washington
and James Rothwell
GEORGE H W BUSH, the former US president, has apologised after an actress nearly 60 years his junior accused him of groping her from his wheelchair.
Heather Lind, 34, claimed Mr Bush, 93, assaulted her four years ago while they posed for a photograph alongside the former president’s wife.
In a post on social media, Ms Lind claimed: “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.”
In a statement, Jim Mcgrath, Mr Bush’s spokesman, did not deny the allegation but described the incident as an ill-judged 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.” Ms Lind was starring in Turn: Washington’s Spies, a 2014 American Revolutionary War drama, and met Mr Bush along with fellow cast members at a screening in Houston, Texas. At the time she was 30 and the former president – the 41st to hold the position – was 89.
Ms Lind said she decided to share her story after seeing Mr Bush on stage at a benefit concert to raise money for victims of hurricanes.
She said: “I found it disturbing. 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.”
Ms Lind said she had told colleagues on the television series what had happened and they had voiced their support for her. She said: “My fellow cast-mates and producers helped me that day and continue to support me.” Kevin Mcnally, a British co-star who was standing next to Ms Lind when she met Mr Bush, publicly backed her claim. He said: “My full support for Heather Lind for speaking out about the horrible event in Houston. All of which is true.”
Alexander Rose, an author who was at the event, said he also witnessed the incident. He wrote on Twitter: “Her account is 100 per cent accurate. I was there. It was not a ‘joke’ gone awry.’’ The actress said she “did not respect” the former president any more, adding: “I can refuse to call him president and call out other abuses of power when I see them.
“I am grateful for the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences.” Mr Bush suffers from vascular parkinsonism, a rare syndrome that mimics Parkinson’s disease.
He has needed hospital treatment at least four times in the past five years. Earlier this year he was placed in intensive care in a Houston hospital, suffer- ing from pneumonia. Ms Lind later deleted the post containing her allegation from Instagram.
It had been accompanied by the hashtag #metoo, which has been used since the Harvey Weinstein scandal by women sharing their experiences of sexual harassment.
‘His security guard said I shouldn’t have stood next to him’