Gillibrand: Republicans’ silence on sexual misconduct allegations is ‘deafening’

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in a tweet on Sunday ripped Republicans for their response to sexual misconduct allegations against members of the GOP. 

“We are in a moment of reckoning—and the silence from Republicans is deafening. It is long past time for them to join Democrats in holding members of their own party accountable,” Gillibrand tweeted, as a part of a longer thread that mentioned Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, President Trump and Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas). 

We are in a moment of reckoning—and the silence from Republicans is deafening. It is long past time for them to join Democrats in holding members of their own party accountable.

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) December 10, 2017

The accusations against Moore are disgusting. And President Trump has admitted on tape to how he treats women. His campaigning for Moore isn’t leadership, it’s shameful.

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) December 10, 2017

That means Farenthold should step aside, Moore should never set foot in the Senate, and President Trump should be held accountable.

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) December 10, 2017

Gillibrand last week led the charge in calling for Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to resign following sexual misconduct allegations against him. 

Franken and Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) both resigned last week amid allegations against them. 

Members of the Republican Party, including Moore and Trump, have not been immune to allegations. Numerous women have said that Moore pursued them decades ago, when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s. Trump also faced allegations of misconduct during the presidential campaign and was heard talking about groping women on the 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape.

{mosads}Reports also surfaced that Farenthold used taxpayer funds to settle a 2014 lawsuit with a former aide who said the congressman sexually harassed her.

Republican women in recent days have spoken out against the allegations against members of their own party. 

Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah) called on Farenthold to resign last Thursday, citing the “culture of behavior,” while Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) said on Sunday that it bothered her that the president and the Republican National Committee (RNC) had thrown their support behind Moore. 

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Sunday also said she was disappointed that the RNC has reinstated its support of Moore. 

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, meanwhile, said on Sunday that Trump’s accusers should be heard. 

“I think we heard from them prior to the election. And I think any woman who has felt violated or felt mistreated in any way, they have every right to speak up,” she said.