GOP Paulsen Denounces Donald Trump, 'Will Not be Voting for Him'

Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen will not vote for Donald Trump, according to a statement the Third Congressional District candidate released Saturday.

The announcement comes after a taped conversation of Trump was 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.

Minnesota Public Radio reported that Paulsen said he would not vote for Trump.

"For months I have said Donald Trump has not earned my vote," Paulsen said.

"The disgusting statements revealed last night make it clear he cannot. I will not be voting for him."

The statement was too little, too late, says Paulsen's Democratic rival, Terri Bonoff.

"I'm not calling on Erik Paulsen to disavow Donald Trump because it's too late for that,” Bonoff said in a statement.

“I'm calling on voters to disavow any politician who has not been willing to denounce Donald Trump over the past year despite the wealth of evidence that he is sexist, racist, homophobic, and poses a threat to our national security," Bonoff continued.

"For any politician to do so now is way too little and way too late. Voters should dismiss any politician who didn't have the guts to stand up to Donald Trump when he could have been stopped long ago. And statements of opposition to him now are, frankly, pathetic.”

The taped comments - charitably described as vulgar - brought swift condemnation from many of 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 rep.louiseslaughter, Flickr, used under Creative Commons