Television actress Heather Lind alleges former President George H.W. Bush of touching her from behind and told her a dirty joke while posing for a photo at a Houston event in 2014. Lind, who starred in AMC's "Turn: Washington Spies," wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday, which has since been deleted. Bush, 93, touched her from behind twice from his wheelchair, according to People Magazine.
Lind's post
People reports Lind stated in the post that she was disturbed to see a photo of former president Barack Obama standing with Bush. She further said that she understood the respect former presidents are given, but when she got the chance to take a similar photo with Bush it resulted in a sexual assault.
Lind stated Bush's wife Barbara Bush was included in the photo and allegedly rolled her eyes as if to say "not again" in reaction to Bush touching her from behind. Bush's security guard told her she should not have stood next to the former president during the shot, Lind also stated.
Lind's Instagram post continued to state a president's power comes from their ability to create change, help others, and be a symbol of democracy. She is comforted by knowing she could use her own power to enact a positive change and help people. She said she could refuse to call him president and voice further abuses of power if she sees them.
A spokesman for Bush made a statement to the New York Daily News in which he said Bush apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Lind and he would never intentionally cause anyone distress.
Allegations continue
According to People, Lind decided to share her traumatic experience because other women have shown bravery by speaking up and voicing their experiences with sexual misconduct. The post concluded with a #MeToo-- a campaign started last week after a slew of sexual misconduct accusations came out against film producer Harvey Weinstein.
In the past weeks, several women have voiced their accusations against Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault. Amongst the accusers are actresses Gwenyth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie, both of whom have with Weinstein in late 1990s.
Fox News reports Weinstein left a sex rehabilitation center on Saturday after only attending it for a week via the outpatient program. He attended one group therapy session while in the program. Weinstein will be staying in Arizona to continue his work with doctors, but not through the rehabilitation program, according to Fox.
