Andrea Mitchell defends George H.W. Bush: ‘Someone should be ashamed and it isn’t ’41’
by Daniel Chaitin | Washington Examiner
NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell came to former President George H.W. Bush after he was accused of sexual assault on Wednesday.
“Mrs Bush was at his side. He is in a wheelchair with Parkinson’s syndrome. Really? Someone should be ashamed and it isn’t ’41,” tweeted Mitchell, who also hosts “Andrea Mitchell Reports” on MSNBC. Mitchell’s husband, Alan Greenspan, served as chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1987 to 2006, including under Bush.
Bush, 93, has a form of Parkinson’s disease and has been in a wheelchair for about five years.
He was first accused of sexual assault by actress Heather Lind, who described the interaction four years ago in a now-deleted Instagram post. The incident happened during a photo opportunity to promote a TV show.
Mitchell’s tweet, which describes Bush being flanked by his wife Barbara Bush, appears to be referencing the photo that has been shared widely on social media. It shows the Bushes with Lind and other actors who were part of the TV series “TURN: Washington’s Spies.” CNN reached out to Lind to confirm whether the picture, which appears on AMC’s website, was the one she referenced.
Bush has repeatedly apologized since news of Lind’s sexual assault accusation broke.
“His arm falls on the lower waist of people with whom he takes pictures,” the most recent statement from Bush’s office 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,” the statement added.
A second accuser, New York actress Jordana Grolnick, was revealed at about the same time the last statement was released.