Back in October The Washington Post released leaked footage from a behind-the-scenes tape of President-Elect Donald Trump on Access Hollywood, in which, among other things, he bragged to Billy Bush that "when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p---y.” At the time Trump and his team famously dismissed the assertions as "locker room talk." You know, harmless. Of course, it turns out that some people were actually taking his words to heart.

Christopher von Keyserling (R), who is a chair of the Representative Town Meeting in Greenwich, Connecticut, was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of fourth-degree sexual assault after he pinched a woman's genitals following a political argument.

According to the Westport Daily Voice, von Keyserling encountered the woman at one of the Greenwich town facilities on December 8, at which point the two began discussing politics. At one point during their conversation, the woman said, "It was a new world politically." To which von Keyserling allegedly responded with, "I love this new world; I no longer have to be politically correct."

The two got into an argument, and when the woman retreated to her office, von Keyserling followed her. He then requested to speak with one of the woman's coworkers, who came into the office and told him she didn't have time to meet with him before leaving again. Feeling uncomfortable at being left alone with the politician following their argument, the woman attempted to follow her coworker out. But as she was leaving, von Keyserling reached in between her legs and pinched her groin area.

"[He] looked back with a really evil look in his eyes and said, 'It would be your word against mine, and nobody will believe you," the woman told police, admitting that she threatened to punch him if he ever did it again.

The woman alerted human resources and filed a report with police the next day but asked that no criminal charges be brought due to fear of retribution and any publicity that the case might get. But a week later—after learning that he'd allegedly acted in a similar way with other employees, and hearing that he'd told workers at the town hall about the incident, calling it "a joke"—she went back to the police and requested that they move forward with the charges to prevent any future incidents.

When contacted by police and the facility's executive director, von Keyserling reiterated that his "little pinch" was a "joke" that had gotten "out of hand" and that he couldn't believe she was offended. He has since posted the $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on January 25.

Von Keyserling’s lawyer told Greenwich Time, “There was a playful gesture, in front of witnesses. It was too trivial to be considered anything of significance. To call it a sexual assault is not based in reality."

If this case tells us anything, it's that instances of sexual assault are still not being treated with the seriousness that they deserve. In this case, charges have been brought (for now, anyway). But the attempts made by von Keyserling and his lawyer to minimize his crime as a joke or no big deal is saying to the world that this type of behavior is acceptable.

Thank God for the women, like this one, who are fighting back. While some are raising awareness for the issue by speaking out about their own experiences with sexual assault, others are participating in the Pussyhat Project by wearing pink cat ears to this weekend's Women's March on Washington. It's so important to shine a spotlight on issues like sexual assault because, clearly, our work is far from over.

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-Women Are Rallying Under #NotOkay to Share Their Stories of Sexual Assault Following Trump Tape Leak