George HW Bush has reportedly apologized after an actor accused him of sexual assault.

Heather Lind, 34, alleged that the former US president “sexually assaulted” her when they posed for a photograph several years ago, according to a since deleted Instagram post.

“He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke,” she posted, according to the Mail Online.

A spokesman for the former president, who is 93, told the Mail Online: “President Bush would never – under any circumstance – intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologizes if his attempt at humour offended Ms Lind.”

In the Instagram post, Lind, who has starred in AMC’s Turn: Washington’s Spies, said the president touched her a second time and “Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say ‘not again’.”

“His security guard told me I shouldn’t have stood next to him for the photo,” added Lind.

Lind said she told her castmates about the alleged assault and decided to speak publicly about it because of “the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences”.

There has been a large number of people reporting incidents of sexual harassment and assault online since a number of actors accused Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment in the New York Times earlier this month. Dozens more actors and assistants have since come forward, including Angelina Jolie, Lupita Nyong’o and Léa Seydoux.

Many people, including Lind, shared stories of alleged harassment and assault under the “me too” movement on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

“I thank President Barack Obama for the gesture of respect he made toward George HW Bush for the sake of our country, but I do not respect him. #metoo,” Lind wrote.

There has also been an increase in calls about sexual assault in the US to Rainn (the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the country’s largest anti-sexual assault organization. Rainn revealed this week that its national helpline has been inundated with 21% more calls than usual since the Weinstein allegations became public.

Police in New York City, London and Los Angeles are investigating Weinstein, who in the wake of the allegations was forced out of the Weinstein Company, the production company he co-founded with his brother, Bob Weinstein.

Weinstein has said he denies many of the claims of harassment and “unequivocally” denies allegations of “non-consensual sex”.

In a statement, a representative from Weinstein has said: “Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein. With respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual.”

The Press Association contributed to this report



