New reporting from CNN published today unearthed old interviews and social media activity of JD Vance indicating that he believed Donald Trump was less credible than one of the women who accused him of sexual assault, Jessica Leeds, and that he believed Trump assaulted other women.
Since he began auditioning for the role of Trump’s running mate, Vance completely flipped on his past criticism, instead choosing to repeat Trump’s lies that Democrats are weaponizing every aspect of the justice system to hurt Trump politically.
“JD Vance was once willing to tell the truth about Donald Trump, but now he is so hungry for the power to enact the GOP’s Project 2025 agenda that he’s willing to ignore alleged sexual assaults perpetrated by his running mate,” said American Bridge 21st Century Communications Director of Presidential Campaigns, Brandon Weathersby. “Vance once said he’d like to see a national abortion ban, he’s expressed support for extreme abortion bans in states like Ohio and Texas, and he voted against legislation to protect access to IVF procedures. This is a ticket that doesn’t respect women, turns a blind eye to abuse in pursuit of power, and that will stop at nothing to exert further violence on women by taking away their ability to make decisions about their bodies.”
Learn more about Vance’s history of believing Trump’s accusers:
- Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, repeatedly indicated in 2016 that he believed Donald Trump had committed sexual assault, even suggesting in one TV segment that in a “he said, she said” situation Trump was less credible than one of his accusers.
- Vance appeared on a MSNBC segment in October 2016 on Trump’s alleged sexual misconduct in which an interview with Jessica Leeds, a former salesperson who accused Trump of groping and forcibly kissing her during a flight in the 1970s, was played. Vance said it was hard to believe Trump’s denials over Leeds.
- “At a fundamental level, this is sort of a ‘he said, she said,’ right? And at the end of the day, do you believe Donald Trump, who always tells the truth? Just kidding,” said Vance sarcastically. “Or do you believe that woman on that tape?” he said, referring to Leeds.
- In October 2016, Vance tweeted, “What percentage of the American population has @realDonaldTrump sexually assaulted?”
- The tweet, which was first reported in 2018, was later deleted, but its replies still exist on the platform, and the tweet was later compiled in an opposition report published by his own super PAC in 2022 to uncover his potential vulnerabilities as a candidate.
- In deleted likes from his Twitter account, reviewed by CNN, Vance had also indicated he believed Trump’s accusers and those who criticized Trump as a “serial sexual assault[er].”
- “Maybe the Central Park 5 could take out a full-page ad to condemn the coddling of thug real estate barons who commit serial sexual assault,” read the post, again posted just after the “Access Hollywood” tape surfaced.
- Another post liked in 2016 by Vance said, “I wish there was a 2nd Vice Presidential debate just to see @GovPenceIN deny that Trump said he grabbed p*ssy.”
- And in October 2016, Vance shared on Facebook a Washington Post editorial by Russell Moore, then of the Southern Baptist Convention, criticizing Trump’s views on women.
Read the full bombshell story on CNN.com
Published: Jul 23, 2024 | Last Modified: Jul 24, 2024