After the second presidential debate, when a flood of groping and sexual assault allegations hit the news media all at once, journalists had to be careful even suggesting that such a thing could have been coordinated.
Americans are living in a time when Hillary Clinton of all people can tell them with a straight face that rape accusers should be heard and believed and supported. The expectations have been set: if a woman decides to come forward a month before the election with a claim that Donald Trump groped her more than 30 years ago, that’s her prerogative — it’s a woman’s decision if and when to disclose such information.
Still, some accusers sure are making it difficult to comply with Clinton’s directive. After a day of hype over news that a woman was going public with a claim that Donald Trump raped her when she was just 13, the press conference was canceled just as it was scheduled to begin.
BREAKING: woman who sued Donald Trump for child rape breaks her silence today. https://t.co/ecbzZ6jxSU pic.twitter.com/kdCRsG7wIm
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) November 2, 2016
Obviously, that didn’t happen.
Latest Trump accusers attorney says woman has received threats and is too afraid to come forward. Cancelled press conference. @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/xG7GY6BihV
— Victoria Spilabotte (@VictoriaFOXLA) November 2, 2016
#BREAKINGNEWS Jane Doe, who has sued Donald Trump for child rape, cancels news conference after receiving alleged threats. #abc7eyewitness pic.twitter.com/XhGDMJp3T4
— Marc Cota-Robles (@abc7marccr) November 2, 2016
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Lisa Bloom cancels press conference said Jane Doe against Trump accuser has received threats and is too scared pic.twitter.com/et5HnhfOJk
— Claudia Rosenbaum (@CJRosenbaum) November 2, 2016
Attorney Lisa Bloom just cancelled Jane Doe presser saying Doe felt too afraid to detail Trump rape allegations. pic.twitter.com/6LpfMtRSPR
— Rory Carroll (@rorycarroll72) November 2, 2016
Lawyer @LisaBloom cancels news conference for Jane Doe who's accused Donald Trump of rape. Client "living in fear" after receiving "threats" pic.twitter.com/MtOe39zTq4
— Peter Bowes (@peterbowes) November 2, 2016
"We're going to have to reschedule. I apologize to all of you who came. I have nothing further." @LisaBloom press conference is off.
— Irin Carmon (@irin) November 2, 2016
Press conference cancelled, Jane Doe has received numerous threats, afraid to show her face. -Lisa Bloom
— Matt Ferner (@matthewferner) November 2, 2016
Bloom: "We're going to have to reschedule. I have nothing further."
— Matt Ferner (@matthewferner) November 2, 2016
The Huffington Post was especially ready to cover the proceedings, even asking earlier in the day why the media wasn’t covering the case … awkward, considering microphones from CNN, Fox News, the Associated Press and others were set up and ready to record.
Donald Trump is accused of raping a 13-year-old. Why haven’t the media covered It? https://t.co/JHYKLf4xZB pic.twitter.com/Uu79asYdRB
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) November 2, 2016
So, Trump bullies have struck once again?
Trump bullies again! Hope Lisa Bloom can get her to come forward. Trump is a danger to ALL our daughters!!! https://t.co/1fNU9L3ju4
— Amy Siskind ?️? (@Amy_Siskind) November 2, 2016
Now begins the shit storm of misogyny that comes after this. Some wonder why women don't come forward right away… https://t.co/r68IgRbVSk
— PolitiSquirrel (@PolitiSquirrel) November 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/norcalvol/status/793939621910454272
The press conference reportedly will be rescheduled.
To sum up, press conference with woman accusing Trump of rape will be rescheduled, per @lisabloom, who cited threats to Jane Doe.
— Irin Carmon (@irin) November 2, 2016
MSNBC’s Christopher Hayes is aware of what’s going on … maybe he can assist?
Lisa Bloom just said her client was "living in fear" and did not want to show her face and ended the press conference.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) November 2, 2016
why wasn't it carried on @msnbc
— PamS??? (@PamSchep) November 2, 2016
why isn't your network talking about it?
— Rexie Stump? (@RexieStump) November 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/Tristanshouts/status/793936993541423104
Perhaps the press needs to cover this story anyway. Irresponsible not to discuss it.
— AG (@4everManUnited) November 2, 2016
That is sad. Will you be covering this story on your show this evening; perhaps have Ms. Bloom on?
— Duane Marble (@MarbleDuane) November 2, 2016
Well, the rape allegation did get its share of media attention, even without a press conference — so much for the idea no one’s covering the story, even if that story ended with a room full of reporters waiting for a bombshell that didn’t drop. What’s that feeling called?
https://twitter.com/RobProvince/status/793938222829203456
Um. Because that was the script all along? Good grief. Who in their right minds would allow a court-bound witness to do this
— Daniel (@AboutDmnTime) November 2, 2016
Who would allow it? Attorney Lisa Bloom, daughter of Gloria Allred.
Are we all insane? She calls a press conference, then, AT the presser says there's no presser? HELLO? Ugh!! The ignorance! -VJ
— RealVinnieJames (@RealVinnieJames) November 2, 2016
All these liberal pubs that WANTED it to be credible rejected the story, but Team Clinton lets the stunt go forward. https://t.co/gWrKJbH7qo pic.twitter.com/m7JdIjDMlp
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) November 2, 2016
Remember, we know from DNC leaks that Allred is willing to do "everything we can" to elect Hillary.https://t.co/qsSXQJltO1 pic.twitter.com/fHmDk0v3In
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) November 2, 2016
This woman's pinned tweet (up to an hour ago) was advertisement soliciting fraudulent claims against Trump. Internet is forever pic.twitter.com/fhRJYoSWty
— Theodore (@RefDemo) November 2, 2016
Did Ben Shapiro call it again?
When HuffPo knows better than to touch a Trump rape story, you know the story has holes https://t.co/PfX8gvy2lG
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) November 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/JamesTheSilent_/status/793920276551663616
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