George H.W. Bush offers defense of why he ‘patted women’s rears’

The statement says that Bush has been in a wheelchair for five years and explains that he cannot reach people around the waist.

“His arm falls on the lower waist of people with whom he takes pictures,” the statement issued Wednesday said. “To try to put people at ease, the president routinely tells the same joke — and on occasion, he has patted women’s rears in what he intended to be a good-natured manner. Some have seen it as innocent; others clearly view it as inappropriate.”

“To anyone he has offended, President Bush apologizes most sincerely,” the statement added.

Bush was responding to actress Heather Lind, who described the interaction four years ago in a now-deleted Instagram post. The happened during a photo opportunity to promote a TV show, but she not provide specifics.

“But when I got the chance to meet George H.W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo,” the post said. “He didn’t shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again.”

Late Wednesday, a second woman, New York actress Jordana Grolnick, accused Bush of groping her, according to Deadspin.

“I got sent the Heather Lind story by many people this morning,” Grolnick said. “And I’m afraid that mine is entirely similar.”

Grolnick shared that although she had previously heard Bush had groped people in pictures, but dismissed the claims.

“We all circled around him and Barbara for a photo, and I was right next to him,” she said. “He reached his right hand around to my behind, and as we smiled for the photo he asked the group, ‘Do you want to know who my favorite magician is?’ As I felt his hand dig into my flesh, he said, ‘David Cop-a-Feel!'”

Earlier in the day Wednesday, Bush’s spokesman Jim McGrath said his boss would “never — under any circumstance — intentionally cause anyone distress.”

McGrath also said Bush “sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind.”