Trump’s boasts ‘re-traumatizing’ for Oregon governor
Donald Trump’s recently unearthed 2005 remarks bragging about sexual assault were “re-traumatizing” for Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, who’s a survivor of domestic violence.
The governor, who could become the first out LGBT person elected as governor in the United States, reflected in an interview Tuesday with the Washington Blade on the misogynistic comments from Trump that shook up the presidential race.
“I think for all us who have been through incidents of domestic violence or sexual assault the words are re-traumatizing, and I think, unfortunately, for women across the United States, it’s all too common to hear words like this from men in places of power,” Brown said.
Asked what the remarks portend for a potential Trump presidency, Brown replied, “I’m certainly hoping that conscientious men and women will rise up and vote against Donald Trump.”
Brown, who’s bisexual, came out as a survivor of domestic violence last month in response to a question about improving the lives of women during a debate with her Republican opponent William “Bud” Pierce. Referencing a new report from the Women’s Foundation of Oregon, which found women continue to face high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault, Brown said of her experience, “I know what it feels like to be a victim of domestic violence.”
October 28, 2016
In response to the same question, Pierce didn’t acknowledge the governor’s disclosure and said, “A woman that has great education and training and a great job is not susceptible to this kind of abuse by men,” drawing boos from the audience.
During her interview with the Blade, Brown said Trump’s remarks were emotional for her personally and the negative impact was compounded because they came days after her debate with Pierce.
“It was re-traumatizing to me because [Pierce] clearly hadn’t listened to what I had to say, and it was just a very challenging next several days between that and Trump’s statement,” Brown said. “I don’t understand how anybody could consider voting for Donald Trump after what they heard him say.”
The Brown campaign has confirmed the candidate was a victim of domestic violence, but declined to provide details other than to say the perpetuator wasn’t Dan Brown, her spouse, whom she married in 1997.
By CHRIS JOHNSON