Angie Craig Campaign Calls on Jason Lewis to Withdraw Support for Donald Trump

The campaign for Second District Democratic nominee Angie Craig is calling on its Republican rival Jason Lewis to withdraw his support for Donald Trump.

The campaign called on Lewis after a taped conversation of Donald Trump leaked Friday. In the conversation, GOP nominee describes in graphically vulgar terms about how he tried to have sex with a married women and how stardom affords him the privilege to kiss, grope and have sex with women whenever he pleases.

On Sunday, nine female legislators highlighted what they said were past comments from Minnesota Republicans as reflections of the Trump candidacy.

State Representative Laurie Halverson (DFL-51B) participated in the news conference.

“Jason Lewis’ years of broadcasting outright misogyny has helped create a culture where I actually have to worry about censoring the news for my child,” said Halverson in a statement.

“Minnesota’s second district deserves better. I hope Jason can show voters that he operates with a modicum of principle by apologizing for his months of promoting Donald Trump and withdrawing his support for the Republican at the top of the ticket.”

"Jason can’t hide from this forever--his only response to the single most disturbing development in national politics is a lone tweet,” said Susy Bates, Campaign Manager for Angie Craig.

“Despite claiming he finds Donald Trump’s comments vile, Jason couldn’t devote more than 140 characters to the topic and still supports Trump. The disconnect isn’t surprising, though, given Jason Lewis’ logic around everything from slavery to sexual assault."

Lewis did in fact condemn Trump's comments in the leaked conversation via Twitter, but he has not rescinded his support for the candidate.

The taped comments - charitably described as vulgar - brought swift condemnation from Trump's Republican colleagues.

"I am sickened by what I heard today," said Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, who was supposed to appear at a rally with Trump on Saturday. Ryan said that Trump will no longer be appearing at the event.

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"Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified," Ryan said. "I hope Mr. Trump treats this situation with the seriousness it deserves and works to demonstrate to the country that he has greater respect for women than this clip suggests."

On the recording, obtained and published by the Washington Post, Trump is speaking with "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush before visiting the set of "Days of Our Lives," where Trump was making a guest appearance. (Billy Bush is the cousin of Jeb and George W. Bush.)

The three-minute tape begins with Trump talking to Billy Bush about an unnamed married woman who he tried to have sex with — and failed.

“I moved on her and I failed. I’ll admit it,” Trump says.

“I did try and f--- her. She was married,” Trump says.

“And I moved on her very heavily," he continued. "In fact, I took her out furniture shopping. She wanted to get some furniture. I said, ‘I’ll show you where they have some nice furniture.’

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“I moved on her like a b----, but I couldn’t get there. And she was married,” Trump says. “Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony t--- and everything. She’s totally changed her look.”

Later in the video, Trump and Bush seem to notice Arianne Zucker, the actress who is to escort Trump to the set.

“Your girl’s hot as s---, in the purple,” says Bush, who’s now a co-host of NBC’s “Today” show.

“Whoa!” Trump says. “Whoa!”

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“I’ve gotta use some Tic Tacs, just in case I start kissing her,” Trump says. “You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait."

"And when you’re a star they let you do it,” Trump continues. “You can do anything.”

“Whatever you want,” Bush says.

“Grab them by the p---y,” Trump says. “You can do anything.”

Shortly after Trump says that, they get out of the bus and meet Zucker, who takes them inside the studio.

Listen to the full leaked audio here.

Marc Torrence contributed to this report.

Image via Gage Skidmore, Flickr, used under Creative Commons