POLITICS
What was the Access Hollywood tape that Donald Trump is attempting to ban?
The former US president aims to take back his place in the White House and wants to prevent this tape from being used as evidence against him.
In October 2016, a bombshell recording was released by the Washington Post featuring then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump engaged in a conversation with Access Hollywood host, Billy Bush. The conversation had taken place in 2005, and contained crude and vulgar comments about women made by Trump.
His attorneys are now seeking to prevent the tape from being used as evidence in his upcoming civil rape trial. In papers filed in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, Trump’s attorneys, Alina Habba and Michael Madaio, argued that references to the tape and the tape itself should be banned from the April trial involving longtime advice columnist E. Jean Carroll’s claims against Trump.
According to the attorneys, the tape is “irrelevant and highly prejudicial” and could unfairly lead jurors to believe that Trump had a history of sexual assault and therefore must have raped Carroll. The attorneys also requested that testimony from two women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct and references to his campaign speeches be banned.
Donald Trump’s Access Hollywood tape
In the recording, Trump could be heard boasting about his attempts to seduce a married woman, saying he would “grab her by the pussy” and making other sexually explicit comments. The recording quickly sparked outrage, with many people condemning Trump’s language and behaviour.
Trump initially dismissed the recording as “locker room talk,” but later issued an apology, something that was very rare for him, stating that the comments were “inappropriate” and that he regretted making them. Despite this, the controversy surrounding the tape continued to dog Trump’s presidential campaign, with many women coming forward to accuse him of sexual assault and harassment, including those mentioned above.
Warning: the video contains graphic language
The tape also became a major issue in the presidential debates, with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton repeatedly raising the issue and accusing Trump of disrespecting women. Despite the controversy, Trump went on to win the election, becoming the 45th President of the United States.
The Access Hollywood tape remains a defining moment in Trump’s presidency, and is often cited as an example of his controversial and divisive approach to politics. The tape has also had a lasting impact on the national conversation around sexual harassment and assault, helping to raise awareness and spark a broader discussion about these issues.
Despite its vulgar nature, devoted supporters of the former president continue to make excuses for it, as shown in the clip above. But, when he himself said he could shoot someone in broad daylight and they’d still vote for him, it would appear that morality is difficult to judge when your red scarf is tied too tightly round your neck.