By Miranda Green
CNN
New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand believes that former President Bill Clinton should have resigned in light of the Lewinsky affair.
Speaking to The New York Times Thursday, Gillibrand, who holds Hillary Clinton’s former seat, said of whether the former president should have stepped down, “Yes, I think that is the appropriate response.”
Clinton was ultimately impeached over the scandal but was acquitted by the Senate and finished his term as president.
Gillibrand’s remarks are particularly noteworthy considering she was a big supporter of Hillary Clinton’s recent presidential campaign. She frequently spoke in support of the Clintons and traveled to campaign events to advocate for the former first lady.
“Things have changed today, and I think under those circumstances there should be a very different reaction,” she said. “And I think in light of this conversation, we should have a very different conversation about President Trump, and a very different conversation about allegations against him.”
Trump has been accused of sexual harassment on numerous occasions and memorably bragged in the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape about being able to sexually assault women.
Philippe Reines, a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton, blasted Gillibrand on Twitter over the remarks.
“Over 20 yrs you took the Clintons’ endorsements, money, and seat. Hypocrite,” he wrote. “Interesting strategy for 2020 primaries. Best of luck.”
The senator has been a strong advocate against sexual assault and for women’s rights. She championed a fight against rampant sexual assault in the military and introduced legislation meant to combat sexual assault on college campuses.
Gillibrand’s comments came hours after the Democratic Party was rocked by the news that Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken groped and “forcibly kissed” a woman without her consent during an overseas USO tour in 2006, two years before Franken was elected to the Senate.
There’s been a growing national furor over sexual harassment and misconduct, including a remarkable House hearing earlier this week in which lawmakers addressed what they described as a rampant sexual harassment problem on Capitol Hill.
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