Actress Heather Lind Accuses Former President George HW Bush Of Sexual Assault

UPDATE: 5: 03 a.m. EDT — Actress Heather Lind accused former President George H.W. Bush of sexually assaulting her during a photo shoot four years back. In an Instagram post which has been deleted now, she accused Bush of groping her from behind in the presence of his wife, Barbara.

The former president has, however, responded to the allegations and apologized for the same. In a statement to Daily Mail, a representative for Bush apologized for the trouble caused to Lind. He wrote: “President Bush would never — under any circumstance — intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind.”

Original Story:

Former President George H. W. Bush was in the news recently when he joined other former United States presidents for a relief concert to aid the victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. However, he got caught up in a controversy after actress Heather Lind accused him of sexually assaulting her from his wheelchair during a photo shoot four years ago.

The 34-year-old actress, who starred in the AMC's series "Turn: Washington's Spies," claimed the 93-year-old former president groped her in front of his wife Barbara, NY Daily News reported.

In a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday, Lind detailed how she met Bush who told her dirty jokes and the way he allegedly groped her with his wife by his side.

Here’s what Lind wrote:

I was disturbed today by a photo I saw of President Barack Obama shaking hands with George H. W. Bush in a gathering of ex-presidents organizing aid to states and territories damaged by recent hurricanes. I found it disturbing because I recognize the respect ex-presidents are given for having served. And I feel pride and reverence toward many of the men in the photo. But when I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo.

He didn’t shake my hand. 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. 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. We were instructed to call him Mr. President. It seems to me a President’s power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy. He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me.

What comforts me is that I too can use my power, which isn’t so different from a President really. I can enact positive change. I can actually help people. I can be a symbol of my democracy. I can refuse to call him President, and call out other abuses of power when I see them. I can vote for a President, in part, by the nature of his or her character, knowing that his or her political decisions must necessarily stem from that character. My fellow cast-mates and producers helped me that day and continue to support me. I am grateful for the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences. And I thank President Barack Obama for the gesture of respect he made toward George H. W. Bush for the sake of our country, but I do not respect him.

Along with the post, Lind also used the hashtag — #MeToo — a popular Twitter trend started by actress Alyssa Milano who called upon women who have been the victims of any form of sexual assault or harassment to tweet their experiences using the hashtag.