.jpg){kind=link}
President Donald Trump, who once bragged about grabbing women by the pussy, has come to the defense of Fox News host Bill O’Reilly, who reportedly paid $13 million in settlements to five women over sexual assault allegations.
Trump’s remarks came during an Oval Office interview about former Obama administration National Security Adviser Susan Rice and her role in incidental surveillance of Trump’s team, leading him to say how several media outlets refused to cover the controversy—except for Fox News and O’Reilly, whom the president went on to praise.
“I think he’s a person I know well—he is a good person,” Trump told the New York Times about O’Reilly. “I think he shouldn’t have settled; personally I think he shouldn’t have settled. Because you should have taken it all the way. I don’t think Bill did anything wrong.”
Trump used similar language to defend Fox News founder Roger Ailes when he stepped down as chairman last year after multiple accusations of sexual assault. “It’s very sad because he’s a very good person,” Trump said of Ailes in July. “I’ve always found him to be just a very, very good person. And by the way, a very, very talented person. Look what he’s done. So, I feel very badly.”
Ailes was just hit with another sexual harassment suit on Monday.