The former secretary of state’s remark ― as well as her suggestion that her husband’s sexual relationship with Lewinsky was consensual because Lewinsky had been “an adult” at the time ― appeared at odds with the Me Too movement Clinton herself has championed.
Lewinsky, who was 22 at the time of the affair, previously said that her sexual encounters with Bill Clinton had been consensual, but has reconsidered that view recently. Several other women have accused the former president of sexual misconduct going as far back as the 1970s, which he has vehemently denied.
Advocates against sexual violence have said it’s impossible for a presidentto have a consensual sexual relationship with an intern, given the unequal power dynamics.
But five major women’s advocacy groups ― National Organization for Women, Time’s Up, Planned Parenthood, Ultraviolet and Feminist Majority ― have been noticeably silent on Clinton’s controversial remarks.
These organizations have been outspoken supporters of Me Too or deeply critical of the numerous sexual misconduct allegations against President Donald Trump ― or both.
National Organization for Women, Time’s Up, Planned Parenthood, Ultraviolet and Feminist Majority had not tweeted or issued statements about the interview as of Monday afternoon. None of the groups immediately responded to HuffPost’s requests for comment, except for NOW, which declined to comment.
Neither Tarana Burke, who started the Me Too campaign in 2007, nor Alyssa Milano, a prominent women’s rights activist who helped the campaign go viral a year ago, have publicly commented or responded to HuffPost’s request for comment on Hillary Clinton’s interview.
