Trump Stages Pre-Debate News Conference With Bill Clinton Accusers

With Campaign Reeling, GOP Nominee Pulls Desperate Stunt

In an apparent act of desperation, Donald Trump staged a surprise pre-debate “press conference” Sunday featuring women who’ve accused President Bill Clinton of sexual improprieties. 

Trump’s campaign is reeling from fallout over a 2005 video that surfaced Friday in which he condoned adultery and sexual assault. 

“These four women have asked to be here, and it was our honor to help them,” Trump told reporters at the start of the event, which was broadcast on Facebook Live. 

The women — Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey, Kathy Shelton and Paula Jones — then made brief statements, but Trump refused to answer questions. 

“Does your star power allow you to touch women without your consent?” one reporter asked. 

“Why don’t you ask Bill Clinton that?” Jones said, to applause from Trump’s staffers. 

Clinton spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri responded in a statement: 

“We’re not surprised to see Donald Trump continue his destructive race to the bottom,” she said. “Hillary Clinton understands the opportunity in this town hall is to talk to voters on stage and in the audience about the issues that matter to them, and this stunt doesn’t change that. If Donald Trump doesn’t see that, that’s his loss. As always, she’s prepared to handle whatever Donald Trump throws her way.”