Canada PM Justin Trudeau accused of groping a journalist
On Friday, former journalist Rose Knight broke her silence to stand by her earlier anonymous statement that she had been groped by Canadian PM and avowed feminist Justin Trudeau in 2000, back when he wasn't into politics. However, Trudeau, whose party maintains a zero tolerance policy on sexual assault, defended himself by saying that he hadn't acted inappropriately. Here's more.
Knight broke her silence owing to mounting media pressure
"I issue this statement reluctantly, in response to mounting media pressure to confirm that I was the reporter who was the subject of the Open Eyes editorial, published in the Creston Valley Advance in August of 2000," said Knight in a statement to CBC.
The incident took place at a music festival in Creston
What Knight was referring to, in her statement, was the original report on the incident, which took place at a music festival in the western city of Creston in British Columbia. Trudeau, who was 28 years old at that time, had reportedly apologized the day after the incident. Knight added that she hadn't pursued the incident then, and wouldn't do so now either.
Knight didn't have any contact with Trudeau after the incident
"The incident referred to in the editorial did occur...Mr Trudeau did apologize the next day. I did not pursue the incident at the time and will not be pursuing the incident further. I have had no subsequent contact with Mr Trudeau," added Knight.
Trudeau repeatedly says that he hadn't acted inappropriately
Rose Knight spoke up a day after Trudeau defended himself against the allegation that he had groped a journalist back in 2000. When asked about whether he would open an investigation into the issue under his party's zero tolerance policy, Trudeau reportedly dodged the question, and repeatedly said that he hadn't acted "inappropriately" and that his actions had been misconstrued by the reporter.
What Trudeau had to say on the matter
"I do not feel that I acted inappropriately in any way, but I respect the fact that someone else might have experienced that differently. Often a man experiences an interaction as being benign or not inappropriate and a woman...can experience it differently," said Trudeau.
