Sky News: Donald Trump has used the word “rape” while discussing past allegations of sexual misconduct against former President Bill Clinton in a TV interview.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee was answering questions on Fox News about a story which appeared in The New York Times at the weekend involving his relationships with women.
But he then turned his attention to Mr Clinton, whom he has described during his campaign as “the worst abuser of women in the history of politics”.
He told Fox News’ Sean Hannity: “By the way, you know, it’s not like the worst things, ok.
“You look at what Clinton’s gone through with all of the problems and all of the things that he’s done.”
Mr Hannity asked whether the newspaper would interview women including Juanita Broaddrick, Paula Jones and Kathleen Willey.
All three have accused Mr Clinton of sexual misconduct.
He said: “In one case, it’s about exposure. In another case, it’s about groping and fondling and touching against a woman’s will.”
Mr Trump replied: “And rape.”
Nick Merrill, a spokesman for Mr Clinton, said in a statement: “Trump is doing what he does best, attacking when he feels wounded and dragging the American people through the mud for his own gain.
“If that’s the kind of campaign he wants to run, that’s his choice.”
Allegations of womanising, extra-marital affairs and sexual misconduct have surrounded Mr Clinton during his political career, including what his campaign referred to as “bimbo eruptions” when he first ran for president in 1992.
More allegations of misbehaviour emerged after investigators looked into his sexual encounters with White House intern Monica Lewinsky in 1997.
Mr Clinton was impeached over the Lewinsky affair.
In 1998, he agreed to an $850,000 settlement with Ms Jones, an Arkansas state worker, who had accused him of exposing himself and making indecent propositions when he was the state governor.
The settlement did not include an apology or admission of guilt.
Ms Broaddrick, a nurse, claimed she was raped by then state Attorney General Mr Clinton at a Little Rock hotel in 1978.
Ms Willey, a White House volunteer, alleged Mr Clinton fondled her when she met him privately in 1993 to seek a job.
Mr Clinton has denied the allegations by Ms Broaddrick and Ms Willey.
Mr Trump has made it clear he intends to make Mr Clinton’s sexual history a key issue in his campaign, and has labelled Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton as an “enabler”.
Mrs Clinton has refused to respond to the comments, saying she has “nothing to say” about Mr Trump “and how he’s running his campaign”.
