“This was serial misconduct and perversion on the part of Mr. Trump”

Developments on Day 326 of the Trump Administration:

See VideoCast: Trump’s Alleged Sexual Harassment
VideoCast with CNN and Podcasts: Previewing the Alabama Senate Election
Podcasts: The Week in TrumpLand — Trump’s Rants, Alabama Politics, and “Dating” 14-Year-Olds

“We Are Not Holding Our President Accountable”

Some of the 15 women who have publicly accused Donald Trump of sexual harassment and assault set out accounts of being groped, fondled, and forcibly kissed by the businessman and reality TV star who is now President.

Rachel Crooks, a former receptionist at the property developer Bayrock Group, said Trump kissed her on the mouth without her consent in 2005:

This was serial misconduct and perversion on the part of Mr. Trump. Unfortunately, this behavior isn’t rare in our society, and people of all backgrounds can be victims. The only reason I am here today is that this offender is now the President of our country.

Samantha Holvey, the former Miss North Carolina 2006, has said that Trump inspected beauty pageant contestants, and Jessica Leeds said he grabbed her chest and attempting to move his hand up her skirt on a flight.

Crooks called on Congress to “put aside party affiliations and investigate Trump’s history of sexual misconduct”, explaining, “In an objective setting, without question, a person with this record would have entered the graveyard of political aspirations, never to return.”

Leeds added that while some areas of society are “being held accountable for unwanted behavior…we are not holding our President accountable for what he is and who he is”.

Thirteen women have said that Trump harassed or assaulted them directly. Two others said they witnessed behavior that made them uncomfortable.

Last October, during the Presidential campaign, Trump was shown on a 2005 video bragging lewdly about his ability to grope women. Under pressure, he apologized but now reportedly says that the footage is faked.

The candidate was able to ride out the allegations to triumph in November’s election; however, he is under renewed scrutiny amid a wave of accusations against high-profile figures in politics, Hollywood and journalism.

On Sunday the US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said the women challenging Trump deserve to be heard.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders insisted yesterday that Trump has “addressed these accusations directly and denied all of these allegations”, claiming that “eyewitnesses” have backed up the denials: “The American people knew this and voted for the President and we feel like we are ready to move forward in that process.”

But, in an interview with a morning TV program, Crooks, Holvey, and Leeds maintained their calls for justice:

Education Department Stopped Cancellation of Debts for Defrauded Students

The Department of Education stops cancellation of debts for students defrauded by failed for-profit schools.

Before leaving office, President Barack Obama passed new laws speeding up debt cancellations, but Education Secretary Betsy DeVos delayed the implementation of the reforms, saying they would cause costs for taxpayers.

A new report by the Department’s Inspector General says affected borrowers face mounting interest and other financial burdens. It confirms that DeVos has received 25,991 debt cancellation claims, denying two and approving none.

From July 1, 2016 to Obama’s Department inauguration on January 20, 2017, the Education Department received 46,274 claims, approving 27,986 and denying none.

In 2015, a large for-profit school network, Corinthian Colleges, collapsed after investigations into fraud and malpractice led the government to cut off federal funds. Nearly 80,000 students were left facing debts to the Education Department.

In March, Trump University paid out $25 million to settle fraud claims.