Bush again accused of grabbing backside

A second actress has accused former President George H.W. Bush of inappropriate touching.

Jordana Grolnick said Bush grabbed her buttocks during a group photo last year at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine.

She told Deadspin that Bush quipped that his favorite magician is “David Cop-a-Feel” and grabbed her. She said wife Barbara Bush responded, “He’s going to get himself put in jail.”

Grolnick’s story came to light after People magazine reported a similar allegation by actress Heather Lind. Lind, in a now-deleted Instagram post, said that four years ago the 41st president had touched her “from behind” while she posed for a photo with him.

“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,” Lind reportedly wrote. “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.”

In a statement, Bush’s camp put its own spin on the interaction:

“At age 93, President Bush has been confined to a wheelchair for roughly five years, so his arm falls on the lower waist of people with whom he takes pictures,” the statement said. “To try to put people at ease, the president routinely tells the same joke — and on occasion, he has patted women’s rears in what he intended to be a good-natured manner. Some have seen it as innocent; others clearly view it as inappropriate. To anyone he has offended, President Bush apologizes most sincerely.”

Journalist sidelined

MSNBC said journalist Mark Halperin has been suspended from his role as network contributor following a CNN report of allegations from five women who claim he sexually harassed them while he was an ABC News executive.

The network said the veteran political reporter will be off the air until questions about his past are fully understood.

Halperin has apologized for what he termed inappropriate behavior. ABC said Thursday that his tenure ended more than a decade ago.

The women, who asked to remain anonymous, said they didn’t report Halperin’s conduct because they feared retribution or were embarrassed.

Halperin, co-author of the best-selling book “Game Change,” told CNN Wednesday night that he is taking a “step back” from day-to-day work to deal with the situation. Halperin said he pursued relationships, but CNN said he denies the groping allegations.

HBO said Thursday that it is spiking plans for a miniseries based on an upcoming book about the 2016 presidential election by Halperin and John Heilemann. Showtime, where Halperin has cohosted the political series “The Circus,” said it is evaluating its options.

Judd describes Weinstein encounter

Ashley Judd says she escaped Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein’s sexual advances by making a deal.

Two decades ago, in his hotel room, the actress said she told the producer that, yes, she would submit to him but only after winning an Oscar in one of his movies. Then, she said, she fled from his hotel room.

Appearing on Thursday’s “Good Morning America,” Judd said she feels ashamed of her offer but also credits her snap decision as brilliant in escaping Weinstein.