Asked about difference between allegations against senator and president, Sanders affirmed White House view that Trump’s 16 accusers were lying

The White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, said Friday that the difference between allegations of sexual misconduct against Donald Trump and Al Franken was that “Franken has admitted wrongdoing and the president hasn’t”.

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The statement was made in the aftermath of Franken apologizing to Leann Tweeden for inappropriate conduct on a USO tour in 2006.

In a series of public apologies, the Minnesota Democrat has asked to be investigated by the Senate ethics committee and said: “I respect women. I don’t respect men who don’t. And the fact that my own actions have given people a good reason to doubt that makes me feel ashamed.”

Trump has long insisted that all of the 16 women who have come forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct are lying, a position Sanders affirmed from the White House podium on Friday. She was also asked why Trump hadn’t fulfilled his promise during the campaign to sue all of his accusers. Sanders said: “I’ll have to ask him and let you know.”

Although Trump tweeted twice about Franken on Thursday night, he has yet to say anything about Roy Moore, the Alabama Senate candidate who has been accused of sexual assault against several minors, despite Sanders’ insistence that he had done so. When asked about the allegations against Moore on board Air Force One, Trump said: “I haven’t been able to devote very much time to it.”

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The briefing came thirteen months after the release of the Access Hollywood tape.

On the 2005 tape, released by the Washington Post in October 2016, Trump boasted about sexual assault. He said he would see women and “grab them by the pussy”. The future president also said: “When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.”