Gillibrand fires back at Trump: ‘You cannot silence me’

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) fired back at President Trump after he attacked her on Twitter, tweeting Tuesday that the president “cannot silence” her or other women who have said he has brought shame to the White House.

“You cannot silence me or the millions of women who have gotten off the sidelines to speak out about the unfitness and shame you have brought to the Oval Office,” Gillibrand, who a day earlier had said Trump should resign from office, wrote on Twitter.

You cannot silence me or the millions of women who have gotten off the sidelines to speak out about the unfitness and shame you have brought to the Oval Office. https://t.co/UbQZqubXZv

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) December 12, 2017

Gillibrand, a possible presidential candidate in 2020, was the target earlier Tuesday of a Trump tweet that cast her as a “lightweight” senator and “total flunky for Chuck Schumer” who in the past had begged for campaign donations and “would do anything for them.”  

Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office “begging” for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2017

The attacks were a predictable response from Trump after Gillibrand said Monday that he should resign over the numerous sexual harassment and assault allegations against him.

Gillibrand previously called for Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to resign after he was accused of groping and forcible kissing multiple women. She also said in November that former President Bill Clinton should have resigned over the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Trump homed in on that statement in his tweet, calling her “very disloyal” to Clinton, an accusation also made by a former top Clinton aide, Philippe Reines.

Gillibrand told CNN’s Christine Amanpour on Monday that if Trump does not step down, there should be a congressional investigation into the accusations from more than a dozen women who have said Trump sexually harassed or assaulted them in the past.