Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., said Thursday that the New York Times report about two women who claimed they were groped by Donald Trump might end up helping the embattled GOP nominee.
“I think in some ways it plays into Donald Trump’s hands, that the establishment is out to get him, the media is out to get him, and he’s not getting a fair shake,” he said on Fox news.
“After a while, these charges can just end up being so cumulative, that people will disregard them,” he added.
The Times reported late Wednesday that two women came forward with claims that Trump sexually assaulted them. That prompted Trump’s team to immediately reject the story as false, and prepare a libel lawsuit against the paper.
King criticized Republicans for panicking too quickly about the late Friday report, which he said created a “tidal wave” of hysteria.
“I understand why Donald Trump was angry,” he said. “He had come off a big debate, he had done very well, he had stopped the bleeding, and then he sees Republicans walking away from him.
“The New York Times is turning into the National Enquirer,” he added.
