Hillary Clinton has said she was “dismayed” by sexual harassment accusations against a senior adviser to her 2008 presidential campaign, but said the case was “taken seriously and addressed”.

The New York Times reported on Friday that Clinton chose not to fire the adviser, Burns Strider, despite the recommendation of her campaign manager.

In response, Clinton tweeted: “A story appeared today about something that happened in 2008. I was dismayed when it occurred, but was heartened the young woman came forward, was heard and had her concerns taken seriously and addressed.

“I called her today to tell her how proud I am of her and to make sure she knows what all women should: we deserve to be heard.”

The Times reported that Strider was docked several weeks of pay and ordered to undergo counselling but declined to attend. He did not respond to requests for comment from the Times.

Clinton has not addressed why Strider remained on her 2008 Democratic campaign.

Strider was Clinton’s faith adviser, sending her scripture readings.

He subsequently led Correct the Record, a group supporting Clinton from which he was fired for what the Times, citing three sources close to the group’s management, called “workplace issues, including allegations that he harassed a young female aide”.





On Friday night, meanwhile, the Huffington Post columnist Alex Mohajer posted to Twitter an undated video in which Clinton said: “Hey everyone, I just wanted to say thanks, thanks for your feminism, for your activism, and all I can hope is you keep up the really important good work.”

In response to a prompt from an unidentified person offscreen, Clinton then laughed and said: “Let me just say, this is directed to the activist bitches, supporting bitches. So let’s go.”