Donald Trump Confronted Over Sexual Assault Brag At Second Presidential Debate

Trigger warning: this article discusses rape and sexual assault.

Well, we have arrived at the stage of this ceaseless U.S. election where the contenders are arguing which family has the worst sexual offenders.

In the lead-up to this morning’s second presidential debate, Republican candidate Donald Trump was expected to face a grilling over leaked audio in which he confessed to grabbing women “by the p****”.

("Fun" fact: Melania Trump wore Gucci's "Pussy-bow silk crepe de chine shirt" to the debate, in what is either a massive troll or a massive miscalculation.)

However, before Donald met his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton on the stage in Missouri, he held a press conference with Juanita Broaddrick, Paula Jones and Kathleen Wiley, who have each alleged sexual assault or harassment against her husband, Bill Clinton.

As the ABC reports, the former president was never charged in any of these cases, and he settled a sexual harassment suit with Jones for $US850,000 with no apology or admission of guilt.

A fourth woman named Kathy Shelton was also in attendance at Trump’s presser. A rape survivor at the age of 12, Hillary Clinton represented the suspect in her case while serving as a public defender.

This incredible display was not enough, however, to distract moderators Anderson Cooper and Martha Raddatz from pressing Trump on his leaked audio at the very beginning of the debate (which you can find the full transcript of here).

“You described kissing women without their consent, grabbing their genitals. That is sexual assault," Cooper said. (The Washington Post notes that America’s Justice Department defines sexual assault as “any type of sexual contact or behaviour that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.”)

"You bragged that you have sexually assaulted women. Do you understand that?”

Trump immediately denied he had “said that at all”.

“I don’t think you understood what was said. This was locker-room talk.”

Cooper later demanded clarification from Trump, asking, “Have you ever done those things?”

Trump answered: “No, I have not.”

Clinton responded, “this is who Donald Trump is,” but Trump, insisting they were “just words, folks”, reiterated that Bill Clinton had been “abusive to women”.

Later, Trump confirmed he had avoided paying personal federal income taxes for years, and promised that, as president, he would hire a special prosecutor to put Hillary Clinton in jail.

And yet, in this election year, such announcements are barely enough to get the pulse racing.

At the end of the debate, which was in a town hall format that allowed questions from the audience, the two contenders were asked to name something they respected about one another.

Clinton offered the compliment that Trump’s “children are incredibly able and devoted.” Her rival conceded that Hillary “doesn’t quit”.

The third – and mercifully final – debate will take place on October 19. The election will be held in November. Our lives can all continue – forever changed, perhaps for the worse – some time afterwards.

Are you experiencing sexual assault or domestic and family violence? Seeking to support someone who is? Call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

Photo: Facebook - New York Times.