President Donald Trump fired up a new round of questions about sexual harassment Tuesday in a morning tweet attacking New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
Trump wrote that Gillibrand asked him for campaign contributions when the Democrat ran for Senate in 2010.
Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office “begging” for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2017
The tweet followed Gillibrand's call on Monday for Trump to resign because of accusations of sexual harassment. More than a dozen women have accused Trump of groping, assault or other forms of sexual misconduct.
Gillibrand said Trump is trying to quiet criticism from herself and other women.
“I see it as a sexist smear" Gillibrand said. "And it’s part of the president’s effort at name-calling and it’s not going to silence me.”
Though three male colleagues also called on Trump to resign, including New Jersey's Cory Booker, Gillibrand was the only senator who
Trump singled out.
Gillibrand is widely thought to be considering a 2020 presidential run. She's built a national profile on women's issues and being a leading Senate critic of the president.
Gillibrand wouldn't call Trump's tweet sexual harassment, though others did.
"We all know what he was trying to say," California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell told CNN, calling Trump's tweet "ugly" and "suggestive."
Massachusetts Demoratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, another presumed 2020 president contender and frequent Trump target, also weighed in on Twitter.
Are you really trying to bully, intimidate and slut-shame @SenGillibrand? Do you know who you're picking a fight with? Good luck with that, @realDonaldTrump. Nevertheless, #shepersisted. https://t.co/mYJtBZfxiu
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) December 12, 2017