On Politics

Wed Apr 12 2023

Hi there, OnPolitics readers. Today we bring you an exclusive piece on what Donald Trump's felony indictment means to Trump's #MeToo accusers.

USA TODAY reached out to more than 20 women who say they are victims of sexual harassment or battery by the former president. Eight said they weren't comfortable speaking, but four spoke with politics reporters Ella Lee and Rachel Looker.

Here's what they said:

The four — Samantha Holvey, Rachel Crooks, Alva Johnson and Kristin Anderson — said the indictment was a sign of accountability to the law, not Trump's character or treatment of women.

And while they say indictment signals a step closer to holding Trump accountable for his actions, they fear a repeat of 2016 where his alleged misconduct fuels his base and shields him from consequences as he heads into the 2024 presidential election.

The four women are among what they call a "strange sisterhood."

"On one hand, I wish we didn't have each other. I wish there weren't so many women that he's hurt," Holvey told USA TODAY. "But on the other hand, I'm glad I didn't feel alone going through the experience."

Trump has denied the claims.

🔎 Keep reading: How a 'strange sisterhood' of #MeToo accusers is reacting to Trump's indictment in hush money case

📨 Get newsletter in your inbox: Don't miss our politics coverage. Sign up for OnPolitics.

Biden security document found on Belfast street after Northern Ireland police lost it

President Joe Biden gestures before he walked over to talk with reporters before boarding Air Force One, Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Biden is traveling the United Kingdom and Ireland in part to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. With Biden are his son Hunter Biden, left, and sister Valerie Biden(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) ORG XMIT: MDPS308

The incident comes amid increased concerns over Biden's security in Northern Ireland after authorities foiled an IRA bomb plot over the weekend.

READ MORE

Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the Secret Service, shows a video of a proposed training facility that includes a full-scale replica of the White House inside a room in their headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Secret Service fights to shed politics, but 2024 election is a major test

Donald Trump's court appearances on felony charges while running for president complicates the Secret Service's mission in the 2024 election.

READ MORE

President Joe Biden delivers a speech on business development at Ulster University in Belfast on April 12, 2023, as part of a four day trip to Northern Ireland and Ireland for the 25th anniversary commemorations of the "Good Friday Agreement."

Biden in Belfast: 'Northern Ireland will not go back'

Biden's tour through Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland comes as the island is tested by turmoil over the prolonged consequences of Brexit.

READ MORE

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., acknowledges applause during the State of the Union address in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 4, 2020 in Washington.

Race for 2024 heats up: Who's running for president? Who might?

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is the latest Republican contemplating a 2024 presidential run, joining a growing GOP primary field led by Donald Trump.

READ MORE