During an appearance on NBC’s Today this Wednesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan was asked if Congress should investigate the numerous sexual misconduct allegations against President Trump. He dodged the question and wouldn’t even say if he believed Trump’s accusers.
“I don’t even know what all of these allegations are,” Ryan told host Savannah Guthrie. “I’m focused on fixing Congress. I’m focused on my job where I work, making this institution safe.”
Ryan clarified that he wants his daughter to “be able to grow up in an economy, to go into work, public or private sector, where she’s not being harassed, where she’s being empowered.”
“That’s what I’m focused on,” he said. “I’m not focused on this other stuff.”
Ryan added that continuing to focus on the allegations against Trump amounts to a “partisan food fight.”
But as anyone who’s been paying attention to the issue knows, sexual misconduct is a bipartisan phenomenon. As HuffPo points out, sexual misconduct claims against lawmakers in Congress have led to resignation or retirement announcements from Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas), and Rep. Ruben Kihuen (D-Nev.).
Watch the exchange below:
“President Trump has been accused as well. 3 of those accusers recently asked for a Congressional investigation. They want you… Would you support such an investigation?” @savannahguthrie asks @SpeakerRyan about Trump/sexual misconduct pic.twitter.com/77yRIfumxa
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 20, 2017
Featured image via screen grab (YouTube)
