Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., disagrees with a former top adviser to Hillary Clinton who called her a “hypocrite” for saying Thursday that former President Bill Clinton should have stepped down after having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky while for years Gillibrand was a beneficiary of the Clintons’ support.
Gillibrand said on Friday that Philippe Reines was “wrong” after he condemned her for taking the Clintons’ “endorsements, money, and seat.”
Ken Starr spent $70 million on a consensual blowjob. Senate voted to keep POTUS WJC. But not enough for you @SenGillibrand? Over 20 yrs you took the Clintons’ endorsements, money, and seat. Hypocrite.
Interesting strategy for 2020 primaries. Best of luck.https://t.co/KIsnfY4WLT
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) November 17, 2017
“It’s ridiculous and he’s wrong. Bill Clinton did very important things for this country,” Gillibrand said in an interview with Kasie Hunt on MSNBC. “But my point is about this conversation we are having today and that we need to have the highest standards for elected leaders and we have to change what is happening throughout society and we have to allow people to tell their stories. That is what this is all about and that is why the #MeToo campaign is as powerful as it is and is as important as it is.”
NEW: @SenGillibrand responds to @PhilippeReines tough tweet calling her a hypocrite.
“It’s ridiculous and he’s wrong” pic.twitter.com/hoIXhRX8jI
— Kasie DC (@KasieDC) November 17, 2017
Women have been sharing their stories of sexual assault and harassment using the #MeToo hashtag on social media.
Gillibrand responded, “Yes, I think that is the appropriate response,” when asked by the New York Times Thursday if Bill Clinton should have resigned after the affair came to light in the 1990s while he was president.
Clinton was impeached by the House over charges related to the Lewinsky scandal cover-up, but was acquitted by the Senate in 1999.
Gillibrand, who holds Hillary Clinton’s former U.S. Senate seat, is the most high-profile elected Democratic official yet to say Bill Clinton should have resigned.
The comments were made for a podcast that will be posted on Saturday and following revelations that Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., groped and forcefully kissed a radio host without her consent in 2006.
“It’s very disturbing,” Gillibrand said in response. “I was very disappointed. But it’s important that survivors are coming out and speaking truth to power and telling their stories.”
