President Trump in an early morning tweet on Tuesday said Democrats are moving on from the Russia investigation to “false accusations” of sexual harassment.
“Despite thousands of hours wasted and many millions of dollars spent, the Democrats have been unable to show any collusion with Russia – so now they are moving on to the false accusations and fabricated stories of women who I don’t know and/or have never met,” he said. “FAKE NEWS!”
Sexual harassment allegations against Trump are back in the spotlight after three of his accusers, Jessica Leeds, Samantha Holvey and Rachel Crooks, during a press conference on Monday recounted alleged harassment by Trump and demanded that Congress open an investigation. Their allegations were first shared during the 2016 presidential campaign.
In a briefing Monday after the Trump accusers’ press conference, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders again defended the president.
“The president has denied any of these allegations,” Sanders told reporters. “And again, the American people knew this and voted for the president, and we feel like we are ready to move forward.”
Dozens of Democratic female lawmakers are also calling on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against Trump.
Two members of the House of Representatives, former Reps. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), resigned last week over sexual misconduct allegations.
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) last week also announced plans to resign after multiple women came forward claiming he touched them inappropriately.
Trump attorney Ty Cobb hinted in a statement earlier this month that special counsel Robert Mueller was wrapping up his investigation into Russia’s election meddling and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.
“The conclusion of this phase of the Special Counsel’s work demonstrates again that the Special Counsel is moving with all deliberate speed and clears the way for a prompt and reasonable conclusion,” Cobb said.
His statement came after former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI as part of a plea deal with authorities.
In October, Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, pleaded not guilty to all charges stemming from Mueller’s probe.
Manafort’s former business associate, Richard Gates, also pleaded not guilty.
George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser, pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the FBI as part of the investigation.
–Mallory Shelbourne contributed to this report, which was updated at 8:08 a.m.