Michele Bachmann Suggests Clinton Leaked Donald Trump Tapes

Former Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, never one to eschew controversy, has weighed in on the taped conversation of Donald Trump leaked Friday, in which the 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.

The conversation occurred in 2005, shortly into his marriage with his current wife, Melania.

Bachmann suggested the leak was coordinated by Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

"I think what we've been hearing last Friday night is actually pretty predictable. The Clinton campaign had to change the conversation because she had a lot of really bad news this week," Bachmann told CNN Saturday.

"And so this 11-year-old bad boy locker room talk, this is how she wanted to do it. She's trying to tell the media what she wants them to focus on; the questions she wants Anderson Cooper and the people in the room to ask her on Sunday night."

"Nothing happens by accident from the Clinton campaign. This was absolutely a planned premeditated event to drive the conversation," Bachmann added.

Bachmann represented Minnesota's 6th congressional district, which includes Woodbury, from 2007 to 2015.

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.

"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.’

“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!”

“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