A sign held during the Jan. 21, 2017 Women's March in Chicago. (Photo: bradhoc/flickr/cc)
#TrumpToo: Amid Reckoning, Calls to Hold President Accountable Swell
Donald Trump has so far escaped the scrutiny of sexual assualt allegations levied at him that has come to other high profile figures. "That has to change now."
The #TrumpToo movement, which is demanding accountability for President Donald Trump's history of alleged sexual harassment and assault, is gaining more steam this week after the resignations of Democratic lawmakers Al Franken and John Conyers.
A MoveOn.org petition calling for a Congressional and Justice Department investigation into the claims against the president gathered over 150,000 signatures in a week, the group said. As of this writing, it has 161,405 signatures.
"Twenty women have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment or assault against Donald Trump," the MoveOn petition, started by member Susan O'Connor, states. "As the nation grapples with allegations against Roy Moore, Senator Al Franken, and Representative John Conyers, it's past time for Congress and the Department of Justice to formally investigate these allegations against Trump."
A Quinnipiac poll released this week reveals strong support for such a call, finding that 70 percent of Americans would back a congressional inquiry into the numerous allegations.
Conyers and Franken faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and calls within their own party to resign. Conyers did so on Tuesday while Franken announced his resignation Thursday.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Franken said, "I of all people am aware that there is some irony in the fact that I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party," referring to Trump-backed Alabama Senate candidate Moore.
Franken's resignation, said progressive advocacy group CREDO, is not "enough to root out sexual harassment and assault in the federal government." The group pointed to its petition calling for congressional investigations into sexual assault allegations against any federal official, starting with Trump.
The petition, which so far has 182,501 signatures, states that "right now, the momentum for holding powerful men accountable for using their power to harass, assault, and discriminate against women is on our side."
Writing at Rolling Stone, David S. Cohen comments on this "unique moment in modern history" as well. "Remarkably, however, the highest-profile person in the nation, whose treatment of women is notably checkered, has largely escaped this current round of scrutiny. That has to change now. President Trump has to be put under this newly glaring spotlight," he writes.
The Nation's Joan Walsh also made the case this week, writing that "Franken's departure [should] be not just another #MeToo moment but a long-delayed #TrumpToo moment."
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This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
The #TrumpToo movement, which is demanding accountability for President Donald Trump's history of alleged sexual harassment and assault, is gaining more steam this week after the resignations of Democratic lawmakers Al Franken and John Conyers.
A MoveOn.org petition calling for a Congressional and Justice Department investigation into the claims against the president gathered over 150,000 signatures in a week, the group said. As of this writing, it has 161,405 signatures.
"Twenty women have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment or assault against Donald Trump," the MoveOn petition, started by member Susan O'Connor, states. "As the nation grapples with allegations against Roy Moore, Senator Al Franken, and Representative John Conyers, it's past time for Congress and the Department of Justice to formally investigate these allegations against Trump."
A Quinnipiac poll released this week reveals strong support for such a call, finding that 70 percent of Americans would back a congressional inquiry into the numerous allegations.
Conyers and Franken faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and calls within their own party to resign. Conyers did so on Tuesday while Franken announced his resignation Thursday.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Franken said, "I of all people am aware that there is some irony in the fact that I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party," referring to Trump-backed Alabama Senate candidate Moore.
Franken's resignation, said progressive advocacy group CREDO, is not "enough to root out sexual harassment and assault in the federal government." The group pointed to its petition calling for congressional investigations into sexual assault allegations against any federal official, starting with Trump.
The petition, which so far has 182,501 signatures, states that "right now, the momentum for holding powerful men accountable for using their power to harass, assault, and discriminate against women is on our side."
Writing at Rolling Stone, David S. Cohen comments on this "unique moment in modern history" as well. "Remarkably, however, the highest-profile person in the nation, whose treatment of women is notably checkered, has largely escaped this current round of scrutiny. That has to change now. President Trump has to be put under this newly glaring spotlight," he writes.
The Nation's Joan Walsh also made the case this week, writing that "Franken's departure [should] be not just another #MeToo moment but a long-delayed #TrumpToo moment."
The #TrumpToo movement, which is demanding accountability for President Donald Trump's history of alleged sexual harassment and assault, is gaining more steam this week after the resignations of Democratic lawmakers Al Franken and John Conyers.
A MoveOn.org petition calling for a Congressional and Justice Department investigation into the claims against the president gathered over 150,000 signatures in a week, the group said. As of this writing, it has 161,405 signatures.
"Twenty women have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment or assault against Donald Trump," the MoveOn petition, started by member Susan O'Connor, states. "As the nation grapples with allegations against Roy Moore, Senator Al Franken, and Representative John Conyers, it's past time for Congress and the Department of Justice to formally investigate these allegations against Trump."
A Quinnipiac poll released this week reveals strong support for such a call, finding that 70 percent of Americans would back a congressional inquiry into the numerous allegations.
Conyers and Franken faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and calls within their own party to resign. Conyers did so on Tuesday while Franken announced his resignation Thursday.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Franken said, "I of all people am aware that there is some irony in the fact that I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party," referring to Trump-backed Alabama Senate candidate Moore.
Franken's resignation, said progressive advocacy group CREDO, is not "enough to root out sexual harassment and assault in the federal government." The group pointed to its petition calling for congressional investigations into sexual assault allegations against any federal official, starting with Trump.
The petition, which so far has 182,501 signatures, states that "right now, the momentum for holding powerful men accountable for using their power to harass, assault, and discriminate against women is on our side."
Writing at Rolling Stone, David S. Cohen comments on this "unique moment in modern history" as well. "Remarkably, however, the highest-profile person in the nation, whose treatment of women is notably checkered, has largely escaped this current round of scrutiny. That has to change now. President Trump has to be put under this newly glaring spotlight," he writes.
The Nation's Joan Walsh also made the case this week, writing that "Franken's departure [should] be not just another #MeToo moment but a long-delayed #TrumpToo moment."