Internet Explorer 11 is not supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

Trump's Sexual Assault Comments Cost Him Vermont GOP Leader's Support

The leading Republican in the Vermont House of Representatives withdrew his support for Donald Trump on Saturday night in the wake of a newly uncovered recording in which Trump made lewd and sexually aggressive comments about women.

The leading Republican in the Vermont House of Representatives withdrew his support for Donald Trump on Saturday night in the wake of a newly uncovered recording in which Trump made lewd and sexually aggressive comments about women.

 

House Minority Leader Don Turner, R-Milton, had initially condemned Trump's remarks without withdrawing his promise to vote for the Republican presidential nominee.

 

"As a husband and the father of three daughters, I'm not going to pretend that what he said was even remotely defensible," Turner said in a statement at about 4 p.m. Saturday. "This wasn't 'boys being boys' or harmless locker room banter. His statements were abusive. While I'm not ready to withdraw support for a Republican presidential ticket, the make up of that ticket may very well change as the party evaluates its options. And let me be clear that I will never — never — endorse misogyny."

 

By 8:22 p.m., as a wave of Republicans across the nation announced they were cutting ties to Trump, Turner sent a new statement, in which he struck the language suggesting Republicans might find an alternative to Trump before the election. He also added a few new lines.

 

"'At this time, I am withdrawing my support for Mr. Trump," Turner wrote. He added that "at this point" he did not intend to endorse Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
Special Projects