The infamous “Access Hollywood” tape on which President Donald Trump can be heard describing in vulgar detail how his celebrity allowed him to sexually assault women with impunity was not “locker room talk,” as then-candidate Trump suggested, according to the other man on the tape, former NBC host Billy Bush.
Bush, who was fired from his job on NBC’s “Today” show shortly after the tape’s publication last October, described in an interview published over the weekend by The Hollywood Reporter how the 2005 tape derailed his career and led to months of reflection that included a week-long stay at a self-help retreat in California. He noted that the “irony is glaring” that the tape proved so damaging to his career while Trump, who actually made the inflammatory comments while Bush chuckled, went on to win the presidency in spite of it.
My [then] 15-year-old, Mary, called me from boarding school, and she was in tears: “Dad, Dad, Dad,” and I said, “Everything is going to be fine, Mary. Everything’s going to be OK.” It’s just instinctively what you say to your daughter. And she said, “No, why were you laughing at the things that he was saying on that bus, Dad? They weren’t funny.” It hit really hard, and I stopped for a second, and I said, “I have no answer for that that’s any good. I am really sorry. …”
On the story of Amy Dorris, a former model who has come forward to accuse President Donald Trump of sexually assaulting her at the US Open tennis tournament in 1997. She is at least the 26th woman to publicly accuse Trump of sexual misconduct.
The full list of women who have accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct
Jessica Leeds, a travelling salesperson
The allegation: alleges that Mr Trump grabbed her breasts and tried to put his hand up her skirt while on a flight in the 1980s.
Ivana Trump, first wife of Donald Trump
The allegation: accused the president of rape in a 1993 book, but has since said she didn’t mean this in a “literal or criminal sense”.
E. Jean Carroll, journalist
The allegation: Mr Trump sexaully assaulted her at a Bergdorf Goodman store in late 1995 or early 1996. Says Trump followed her to a dressing room, pulled down her tights and forced “his fingers around my private area, thrusts his penis halfway – or completely, I’m not certain – inside me.”
Jill Harth, former business partner of Donald Trump
The allegation: alleges that the president forcibly kissed her, groped her breasts and grabbed her genitals in 1997. The incident, which Harth has described as “attempted rape” took place at Mar-a-Lago estate in one of his children’s bedroom.
Kristen Anderson, former model
The allegation: accuses Mr Trump of putting his hand up her skirt and touching her genitals through her underwear.
Lisa Boyne, former model
The allegation: alleges that female models were forced to walk along a table at a New York restaurant with Mr Trump commenting on their genitalia.
Cathy Heller
The allegation: alleges that Mr Trump forcibly kissed her on the lips at Mar-a-Lago estate in 1997.
Temple Taggart McDowell, former Miss Utah
The allegation: alleges that Mr Trump forcibly kissed her on the mouth on two occasions; once at a beauty pageant, and a second time at Trump Tower.
Mariah Billado, former Miss Vermont Teen USA
The allegation: Mr Trump entered a dressing room unannounced when there were several girls aged between 15 and 19 naked.
Karena Virginia, yoga instructor and life coach
The allegation: Mr Trump grabbed her breast while she waited for a car at the 1998 US Open.
Bridget Sullivan, former Miss New Hampshire
The allegation: Mr Trump walked into dressing room unannounced while contestants were naked in 2000.
Tasha Dixon, former Miss Arizona
The allegation: Mr Trump walked into a dressing room at a beauty pageant while contestants were half-dressed in 2001.
Melinda Macgillivray
The allegation: Mr Trump groped her buttocks at Mar-a-lago estate in 2003.
Jennifer Murphy
The allegation: Mr Trump forcibly kissed her following job interview in 2005.
Rachel Crooks, receptionist at Trump Tower
The allegation: Mr Trump forcibly kissed her on lips while outside elevator at Trump Tower in 2005.
Natasha Stoynoff, People magazine writer
The allegation: Mr Trump pushed her against a wall and forcibly kissed her during an interview in 2005.
Ninni Laaksonen, former Miss Finland
The allegation: Mr Trump groped her buttocks during a photo outside the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York in 2006.
Jessica Drake, former adult film actress
The allegation: Mr Trump forcibly kissed her and two friends before asking “how much?”
Samantha Holvey, former beauty pageant model
The allegation: Mr Trump would inspect contestants “like meat”, entering dressing rooms unannounced.
Summer Zervos, former The Apprentice contestant
The allegation: Mr Trump grabbed her, forcibly kissed her and groped her breasts.
Cassandra Searles, former Miss Washington
The allegation: Mr Trump grabbed her buttocks repeatedly during 2013 Miss USA pageant.
Karen Johnson
The allegation: Mr Trump grabbed her by her genitals and forcibly kissed her while at Mar-a-Lago in the early 2000s.
Alva Johnson, a former staffer of Donald Trump.
The allegation: claims that during the 2016 presidential campaign she avoided a kiss from the president.