The journalists at ABC’s Good Morning America and CBS This Morning on Thursday offered groaning coverage of Donald Trump “rehashing” “old” rape allegations about Bill Clinton. Given the networks’s past hesitance in covering the claims against the Democrat, it’s clear these journalists probably didn’t enjoy highlighting them now.
On CBS, Major Garrett reminded, “In an interview Wednesday, Donald Trump previewed a potential general election attack, rehashing accusations made against former President Bill Clinton.” On Good Morning America, former Clinton operative George Stephanopoulos marveled, “Donald Trump launches his toughest attack yet on Bill Clinton calling out his history with women. Even bringing up rape.”
Reporter Tom Llamas managed: “Donald Trump launching his most severe attack yet against Hillary Clinton and her husband.” Llamas added:
LLAMAS: During an interview with Fox News's Sean Hannity, Trump suggests President Bill Clinton raped a women after Hannity names women who have brought allegations against the former president.
In a follow-up segment in the 8am hour, Amy Robach recounted the “old” news “Well, in the race for the White House, Donald Trump has launched his most expensive attack yet against former President Bill Clinton reviving an old rape allegation.”
Over on NBC, Andrea Mitchell dismissed the Clinton rape accusations as “discredited.”
In contrast, in less than four days in 2011, the networks aired 50 stories on allegations of sexual harassment against Herman Cain. In March of 1998, Juanita Broaddrick accused Bill Clinton of rape. Over a 12 month period, there were just four stories on the explosive claim.
Transcript of the GMA segments are below:
7:35am ET
ROBIN ROBERTS: But now, the race for the White House. Donald Trump escalating that war of words with the Clintons as a new national poll shows Trump edging out Hillary Clinton in a tight race. ABC's Tom Llamas has the latest. Good morning, Tom.
TOM LLAMAS: Robin, good morning to you. And Donald Trump already tweeting about that apparent plane crash this morning. But the big political story right now, what Donald Trump said last night about Bill Clinton and the Clinton campaign already saying this is a classic Trump move, say something outrageous to detract from the issues. Overnight while defending his record with women, Donald Trump launching his most severe attack yet against Hillary Clinton and her husband.
TRUMP: How do you compare that against Clinton? Okay? What Clinton’s done.
LLAMAS: During an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity, Trump suggests President Bill Clinton raped a women after Hannity names women who have brought allegations against the former president.
SEAN HANNITY: Are they going to interview Juanita Broderick? Are they going to interview Paula Jones? Are they going to interview Kathleen Willy? In one case it's about exposure. In another case it's about groping and fondling and touching against a woman's will.
TRUMP: And rape.
HANNITY: And rape. Should that —
TRUMP: Big settlements. Massive settlements.
LLAMAS: Trump not done there.
TRUMP: He lost his law license, okay? Couldn't practice law and you don't read about this on Clinton.
LLAMAS: The Clinton campaign firing back suggesting Trump was attacking because he felt, quote, “wounded” saying “after a week of still refusing to release his taxes and likening Oakland and Ferguson to the dangers in Iraq, of course, he wants to change the subject.” And the Democrats dealing with their own created drama as Bernie Sanders stands his ground against critics who say he did not go far enough to denounce scenes like this. Chaos in Nevada. His supporters angry over delegate counts at a state convention.
BERNIE SANDERS: Violence is absolutely unacceptable, harassing individuals is unacceptable.
LLAMAS: Now we mentioned earlier that Donald Trump has tweeted about the breaking news we've been following throughout the broadcast, that plane crash. Trump tweeting, “Looks like yet another terrorist attack. Airplane departed from Paris. When will we get tough, smart and vigilant? Great hate and sickness.” Back to you, guys.
8:05
AMY ROBACH: Well, in the race for the White House, Donald Trump has launched his most expensive attack yet against former President Bill Clinton reviving an old rape allegation. The names of Clinton's accusers came up during a Fox News interview as Trump defended his own record with women. Trump referred to the accusation by a woman who came forward back in 1999 claiming Clinton ha raped her two decades earlier when he was running for governor of Arkansas. Overnight Hillary Clinton's campaign suggested Trump is just trying to distract voters. Trump has said Bill Clinton is fair game in a likely match-up with his wife. A new poll shows Trump ahead of Hillary Clinton by three points which is within the margin of error.
