Actress Heather Lind Accuses Former President George H. W. Bush of Sexual Assault

Heather Lind, the former star of AMC’s political drama series “Turn: Washington Spies,” accused President George H. W. Bush of sexual assault in an Instagram post that has since been deleted. The actress wrote that the former President “touched me from behind” while taking a photo at a March 2014 press event celebrating the television series.

Lind said she believed the action classifies as sexual assault and felt that Bush viewed it as “an attempt at humor.” She wrote that a security guard blamed her for the action for standing too close to the President, while former First Lady Barbara Bush allegedly knew what occurred and “rolled her eyes.”

“I was disturbed today by a photo I saw of President Barack Obama shaking hands with George H. W. Bush in a gathering of ex-presidents organizing aid to states and territories damaged by recent hurricanes,” Lind wrote in the post, which has been reprinted in full on Business Insider’s website. “When I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo.”

“He didn’t shake my hand,” she continued. “He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again.”

Lind ended her post with the following statement:  “I thank President Barack Obama for the gesture of respect he made toward George H. W. Bush for the sake of our country, but I do not respect him. #metoo”

A spokesperson for President Bush issued an official apology on his behalf to reporters from The Daily Mail: “President Bush would never — under any circumstance — intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humor offended Ms. Lind.”

Lind’s other acting credits include supporting roles in Noah Baumbach’s “Mistress America” and Jean-Marc Vallée’s “Demolition,” where she appeared opposite Jake Gyllenhaal.