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Andrea Mitchell on George HW Bush: ‘Someone should be ashamed and it isn’t ’41’

by Rebecca Savransky

NBC’s Andrea Mitchell on Wednesday defended former President George H.W. Bush after a woman accused him of sexual assault.

“Mrs Bush was at his side. He is in a wheelchair with Parkinson’s syndrome,” Mitchell tweeted.

“Really? Someone should be ashamed and it isn’t ’41.”

{mosads}Mitchell’s comments came after actress Heather Lind accused Bush of sexually assaulting her during a photo op four years ago.

A spokesman for Bush apologized for the incident on Wednesday.

“President Bush would never — under any circumstance — intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind,” he said.

Bush’s office released a statement later Wednesday again apologizing and giving an explanation for Bush’s actions.

“At age 93, President Bush has been confined to a wheelchair for roughly five years, so his arm falls on the lower waist of people with whom he takes pictures,” the statement said.

“To try to put people at ease, the president routinely tells the same joke — and on occasion, he has patted women’s rears in what he intended to be a good-natured manner. Some have seen it as innocent; others clearly view it as inappropriate,” the statement from Bush spokesman Jim McGrath continued.

“To anyone he has offended, President Bush apologizes most sincerely.”

Later Wednesday, a second woman accused Bush of groping her, saying she had a similar experience.

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