Donald Trump is coming to the defense of Bill O’Reilly as it pertains to multiple sexual harassment claims that were brought against him.
Last week it was revealed that, in the past, O’Reilly and Fox News have paid five women a total of roughly $13 million to settle claims of sexual harassment brought against him. Two of these five incidents were previously made public. One in 2004, another incident happened last year. The women who accused O’Reilly either worked with him or were guests of the show. They complained of a number of indecent acts by O’Reilly including verbal abuse, lewd comments, unwanted advances and phone calls in which it sounded as if O’Reilly had been masturbating. Due to this information coming to light, several advertisers have since cut ties and refused to air their commercials during The O’Reilly Factor.
In an interview with The New York Times, Trump says, “I think he’s a person I know well — he is a good person. I think he shouldn’t have settled; personally, I think he shouldn’t have settled. Because you should have taken it all the way. I don’t think Bill did anything wrong.”
Despite naming April 2017 National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, this wouldn’t be the first time Donald Trump has excused sexual harassment. Last year, former Fox News chief Roger Ailes, was accused of sexual harassment and Trump came to his defense as well.
“I think they are unfounded just based on what I’ve read,” Trump said of the accusations against Ailes. “Totally unfounded, based on what I read.”
