State of the Union: Congresswoman to bring Weinstein accuser Rowena Chiu to Trump’s speech
Clark says she and Chiu will work to ‘even the imbalance of power’
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Your support makes all the difference.A US Congresswoman will bring one of the women who have come forward against Harvey Weinstein to Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech.
The president is scheduled to give the 2020 address on Tuesday night.
Katherine Clark, a Democratic representative for Massachusetts’s 5th congressional district, told The Boston Globe that Rowena Chiu would attend the event with her.
Chiu has alleged that Weinstein attempted to rape her in 1998. Weinstein, who is currently facing trial in New York City on different charges, has denied Chiu’s claim as well as all allegations of non-consensual sex.
“Rowena’s going to be working with me. We have to change the laws. We have to even the imbalance of power,” Clark told CNN on Tuesday.
“And I think it takes great bravery of her to come forward not only against Harvey Weinstein but against President Trump, who faces multiple allegations of harassment and even rape.”
More than 20 women have accused the US president of sexual misconduct. Mr Trump has denied the allegations.
The president is expected to unleash ”relentless optimism” during his third State of the Union address, a speech designed to pivot from his impeachment to his drive for re-election.
Mr Trump is speaking from a position of strength, with nearly complete control of the Republican Party. The theme of his speech is "The Great American Comeback".
It’ll be a different experience for Democrats, nearly all of whom voted for Mr Trump’s impeachment in the House.
Where Trump will point to GOP unity ahead of the 2020 elections, Democrats and their difficult nomination will be on display after a long night of uncertainty in Iowa’s kickoff caucuses.
The contrast with last year’s State of the Union address will be stark.
Then, Democrats were triumphant just a few days after taking control of the House. Speaker Nancy Pelosi had forced Trump to reopen the government. Her smirking clap, eye-to-eye with him, mocked the US president in front of the world.
Additional reporting by agencies