Fox News host Laura Ingraham corrected a network contributor Monday for suggesting allegations of physical abuse against New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman were “typical” among liberal men, saying abuse “cuts across party lines.”
The contributor’s comments were prompted by Ingraham sharing several tweets of Schneiderman’s, including one where he praised the New York Times and the New Yorker for their reporting on sexual harassment issues.
“All these liberal men clothe themselves in the cloak of feminism,” Fox News contributor Tammy Bruce said Monday night. “[Harvey] Weinstein did the same thing, Bill Clinton was doing the same thing. It was all about ‘we’re your protectors, we’re your advocates.’ And that had kept them safe.”
Bruce added “this is not unusual” and said liberals such as Schneiderman had been shielded in the past to prevent “the entire narrative of the liberal agenda” from falling apart.
“Well, it’s not just Democrats, this cuts across party lines,” Ingraham pointed out.
“Not as much,” Bruce said in response.
“Not of the high profile people, you’re right,” Ingraham admitted, arguing that “left-leaning media” have looked “the other way.”
The exchange followed Schneiderman announced he was resigning amid allegations of physical abuse from four different women detailed in a report by the New Yorker published earlier Monday.
Michelle Manning Barish and Tanya Selvaratnam told the publication Schneiderman hit them multiple times while they were in bed, against their will. The two women characterized his behavior as “assault” and disclosed that the violence typically occurred after Schneiderman had been drinking.
Although neither reported their accusations of misconduct to police, both said they had to receive medical attention following strikes to their ears and face, and after being choked. Both women also claimed Schneiderman warned they would be killed if they cut ties with him, an allegation Schneiderman’s spokesperson denied.
Another woman who was romantically linked to Schneiderman told Manning Barish and Selvaratnam she too experienced nonconsensual physical violence in her interactions with him. Although the third woman remains anonymous, the New Yorker verified the accounts Manning Barish and Selvaratnam provided.
A fourth woman, who asked to remain anonymous, has also accused Schneiderman of slapping her on the face after she rejected one of his advances. She shared a photo with the New Yorker of the mark left on her face from the incident and revealed she screamed out of shock and pain following the blow.
Schneiderman previously denied the allegations of misconduct and noted he has not participated in nonconsensual sex.
His resignation came shortly after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called on him to step down.
