Trump apologizes for lewd comments but calls footage a ‘distraction’

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump released a video statement on Facebook on Saturday (October 8), apologizing for lewd comments he made about women but called the footage of his comments a “distraction” from bigger political issues.

“I’ve said and done things I regret, and the words that were released today in this more than a decade-old video are one of them,” said Trump. “I’ve said some foolish things but there’s a big difference between words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims.”

Trump plunged into a deep crisis on Friday after a bombshell 2005 recording came to light in which he boasted in vulgar terms about trying to have sex with an unidentified married woman and groping women, saying “when you’re a star, they let you do it.”

A stream of Republican leaders denounced the remarks, first published by the Washington Post, which threaten Trump’s already shaky standing with women voters just a month ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election.