The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says the women who accused President Donald Trump of sexual misconduct have the right to be heard.
“Women who accuse anyone should be heard,” Nikki Haley said on CBS’s Face the Nation Sunday. “They should be heard, and they should be dealt with.”
Whether Trump’s election settled the matter was “for the people to decide,” Haley said.
“I know that he was elected but women should always feel comfortable coming forward and we should all be willing to listen to them.”
Haley’s comment is a break from the administration’s assertions that the allegations have no merit and should be dismissed. The White House has said the women who have accused Trump were lying and that the voters rejected their accusations when they elected Trump.
Washington has been roiled by sexual misconduct scandals, with accusations leading to the resignations last week of three members of Congress.
More than 10 women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct before he was elected. During his presidential campaign, a 2005 video of Access Hollywood was released, in which he described grabbing women’s genitals.
Trump has denied the misconduct allegations, although he apologized for his comments, which he called “locker room” talk.
Haley said she was proud of all the women who have come forward to share their stories of sexual misconduct in numerous industries across the country.
“I think it will start to bring conscience to the situation,” the former governor of South Carolina said. “And I think the time has come.”
