Donald Trump threatens Hillary Clinton with PRISON over email scandal after brushing off attack over tape of his lewd comments on women
Clinton said Trump’s aggressively vulgar comments about women had revealed 'exactly who he is'
IN a debate filled with tension, Donald Trump accused Hillary Clinton of attacking women involved in her husband's marital affairs and declared she would “be in jail” if he were president.
Staring icily at her Republican rival, Clinton said Trump's own aggressively vulgar comments about women had revealed “exactly who he is".
But Trump used Bill Clinton's sexual history by bringing four alleged Clinton victims to the debate to try to distract from the swirling controversy over his own predatory remarks about women.
The highly combative debate began with the presidential hopefuls refusing to shake hands - but did end with a handshake following a final debate question which saw the pair identify traits they admire in one another.
The rest of the debate was considerably more ill-tempered, however, with Clinton taking Trump to task on his lewd comments about women, tax records, and questions over his links to Russia.
Trump responded with personal attacks, bringing her husband, former president Bill Clinton, into the debate and slamming Hillary over her treatment of highly sensitive emails.
Tonight’s debate was the culmination of a stunning stretch in the race for the White House, which began with the release of a new video in which Trump is heard bragging about how his fame allowed him to “do anything” to women.
A flood of Republicans revoked their support, with some calling for him to drop out of the race.
Answering for his words for the first time, Trump denied that he had ever kissed and grabbed women without their consent.
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He said repeatedly that his words in 2005 were merely “locker room talk” and paled in comparison to what he called Bill Clinton's abuse of women.
“She should be ashamed of herself,” Trump declared. Ahead of the debate, the businessman met with three women who accused the former president of sexual harassment and even rape, then invited them to sit in the debate hall.
Bill Clinton never faced any criminal charges in relation to the allegations, and a lawsuit over an alleged rape was dismissed. He did settle a lawsuit with one of the women who claimed harassment.
On the debate stage, Clinton did not respond directly to Trump's accusations about her husband or her own role, but was blistering in her condemnation of his predatory comments about women in the tape released Friday.
“I think it's clear to anyone who heard him that it represents exactly who he is,” she said, adding that she did not believe Trump had the “fitness to serve” as commander in chief.
The second debate was a town hall format, with several undecided voters sitting on stage with the candidates. The voters, all from the St. Louis area, were selected by Gallup.
The tension between Trump and Clinton was palpable from the start of their 90-minute debate, the second time they have faced off in the presidential campaign.
They did not shake hands as they met at centre stage.
Trump, who is nearly a foot taller than Clinton, stood close behind her as she answered questions from the voters. At other times, he paced the stage and repeatedly interrupted her.
Trump is under enormous pressure from the Republican Party after the release of a shocking 2005 video in which the businessman can be heard saying his fame allows him to “do anything” to women.
His allies desperately hope the businessman can keep his focus in the debate on Hillary Clinton, raising questions about her trustworthiness and pushing his own populist economic ideas.
The candidates faced questions in the town hall-style setting both from moderators and undecided voters seated with them on stage, a format that typically rewards candidates who show empathy and connect with the problems facing Americans.
But as Trump's meeting with Clinton's accusers indicated, he appeared to have other priorities.
Trump has long hinted he would raise Bill Clinton's sexual history at debates.