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Two Women Claim Trump Touched Them Inappropriately: 'It Was An Assault'

by Robert Anthony
REUTERS

As new scathing reports continue to surface just before Election Day, it doesn't seem like the controversy surrounding Donald Trump and his treatment of women is going to die down anytime soon.

Truthfully, it sure seems like the exact opposite is happening -- and it's taking a toll on Trump's already fragile presidential campaign.

While most people have been aware of Trump's disrespect toward women, things really began heating up on that front when the infamous Access Hollywood tape was leaked.

The footage caught Donald Trump saying a few misogynistic, disgusting things while aboard a bus with former NBC host Billy Bush back in 2005. Let's just say his choice of words advocated for sexual assault.

Does "grab them by the pussy" ring a bell?

The most recent story surrounding Donald Trump and his relations with women introduces the world to 74-year-old Jessica Leeds and Rachel Crooks, two women who claim Trump touched them inappropriately during past interactions.

Both Leeds and Crooks spoke to the New York Times in a recent interview in which they both recounted their invasive encounters with the GOP presidential candidate.

Jessica Leeds, a businesswoman who reportedly met Donald Trump in first class on a flight to New York back in the 1980s, told the Times that Trump lifted up the armrest between them and proceeded to grope her during the flight.

Leeds revealed that nearly 45 minutes after the flight took off for New York, Trump allegedly grabbed her breasts and attempted to reach up her skirt.

Jessica Leeds revealed,

He was like an octopus. His hands were everywhere. It was an assault.

The NYT report also claims that after the alleged assault by Trump on Leeds, she left her seat and headed toward the back of the aircraft. Leeds also made it a point to express that she did not report the matter to the plane crew at the time of the incident, saying,

We accepted it for years. We were taught it was our fault.

So, what caused Jessica Leeds to speak out nearly three decades into the future? It was Donald Trump's words at the second presidential debate, apparently.

When asked if he had ever groped women by their genitals or kissed them without their consent, Trump answered moderators, saying,

No. I have not.

And that's when Leeds said she felt like she'd been told a fat lie.

New York Times

During an interview at her apartment, Leeds admitted,

I wanted to punch the screen.

That's exactly what prompted the second woman, Rachel Crooks, to speak out against Trump and his vile ways, too.

Time and time again, Donald Trump had said that his remarks in the leaked tape from 2005 were "just words" and that none of what he said was ever actually turned into an action on his part.

That set Rachel Crooks off the same way it set Jessica Leeds off.

According to the New York Times, Rachel Crooks was just a 22-year-old receptionist at a real estate company located inside New York City's Trump Tower when she ran into Trump who was waiting for an elevator in the building.

This was back in 2005, the same year Trump's infamous Access Hollywood segment was taped.

Crooks admits that she knew who Trump was and was aware that the company she worked for had business dealings with him. That's when she turned around introduced herself by extending her arm to him for a handshake.

Once Trump shook her hand, she says he would not let go and proceeded to kiss her face.

After that, Trump allegedly kissed Crooks "directly on the mouth."

Crooks told reporters,

It was so inappropriate. I was so upset that he thought I was so insignificant that he could do that.

After the violation of an encounter, Rachel Crooks said she called her sister, Brianne Webb, who was back in Ohio where she grew up.

In a separate interview, Brianne said,

She was very worked up about it. Being from a town of 1,600 people, being naïve, I was like 'Are you sure he didn't just miss trying to kiss you on the cheek?' She said, 'No, he kissed me on the mouth.' I was like, 'That is not normal.'

Still, despite the newly-surfaced reports stemming from women who have had the chance of meeting Donald Trump and those encounters turning into alleged sexual assaults, Trump denies every bit of it.

Of course, after Leeds' and Crooks' stories came out to the public for the very first time this week, the Times reached out to the Republican presidential candidate for his comments.

Trump began shouting on the phone,

None of this ever took place. You are a disgusting human being.

*Long Sigh*

We'll just have to see exactly how this ends up impacting Donald Trump's candidacy in addition to his general existence.

Citations: Two Women Say Donald Trump Touched Them Inappropriately (The New York Times)