From 'locker room' video to nasty debate: 4 tumultuous days on the U.S. election campaign trail
In case you were too busy with food and family this weekend to pay attention, we recap the key moments for you
Those who spent the long weekend focusing on family and food mighthave just missedfour of the mosttumultuous days on the U.S. electioncampaign trail.
The political firestorm over Thanksgiving weekendbegan on Friday, with the release of a video of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump making crude comments about women in 2005.
Two days later, Trump and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton squared off in a nasty debate, and on Monday,the fallout from Trump's commentscontinuedto reverberate. Here's a recap of the key moments.
Friday
The Washington Post releases a 2005video of Trumpcaught making crude comments about women while talking with Billy Bush of Access Hollywood.
WARNING: This video contains graphic language
"I'm automatically attracted to beautiful [women] I just start kissing them," Trumpsays in the video. "It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything."
Right after that, he is heard saying, "grab them by the pussy. You can do anything."
Following an outpouring of outrage andcondemnation, Trump offers a written apology. His statement doeslittle to quell the controversy.Trump issues a video message around midnightoffering another apologybut insists his 2005 comments are a distraction from the important issues in the current campaign.
Here is my statement. pic.twitter.com/WAZiGoQqMQ
—@realDonaldTrump
Meanwhile, in theshadowof the headlines about Trump'scomments,Wikileaks releasesemailsfrom the hacked account of John Podesta, HillaryClinton's campaign chairman. They includeexcerpts from her paid speeches to corporations and banks in which she praises"open trade and open borders" and talks about having"a public and a private position" on issues.
Saturday
Fallout continues over Trump's comments. Some prominentRepublican politicians, including Arizona Senator John McCain,withdraw their support, whileothers, such asformer Republican presidential candidateCarly Fiorina, call on Trump to step aside as thenominee.
Trump's vice-presidentialrunning mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, issues a statementsaying he "cannot defend" Trump's comments about women. Meanwhile, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan uninvites Trump to appear with him at a campaign event in Wisconsin, sayinghe's "sickened" by what he heard.
Sunday
Former New York mayor Rudy Giulianiappears on the Sunday morning talk shows, replacingTrump's campaign manager,Kellyanne Conway and RNC chairman Reince Priebus.
Hours before the scheduled debate, Trump holds a surprise news conference, broadcast via FaceboookLive with four women, three of whom (Paula Jones,JuanitaBroaddrickand KathleenWilley)have accused former U.S. president Bill Clinton of sexual assault.The fourth woman, Kathy Shelton,accused Hillary Clinton of ruining her life when Clinton, as a public defender,representeda man accused of raping Shelton when she was 12 in 1975.
Billy Bush is suspended indefinitely by NBC'sToday showfor his role in theconversation Trump had with himabout women.
Sunday evening the debate
Clinton and Trump square offat Washington University in St. Louis in a townhall style match-up that includes questions from undecided voters in the audience and online.
The debate isan unprecedentednasty,viciousexchange. In response to repeated questioningfromCNN anchor Anderson Cooper, one of two moderators, Trump apologizesfor his 2005 comments,dismissing the words as "locker room talk." ThispromptsClinton to counter that those commentsrepresent"exactly who he is."
Trump vowsto appoint a special prosecutor to re-investigateClinton's use of a privateemailserver while she was secretary of state. Clintonsays she'sglad someone with thetemperament of Trump is not in charge of the laws inthe country. Trump responds: "Because you'd be in jail."
Clinton defends her referenceto differentiating between"public and private comments"by explaining that it was inspired by her admiration for the way thatAbraham Lincolnhad to make different arguments to different people when trying toget the 13th amendment passed and abolish slavery.Trump responds that Clintonwas"blaming the lie on the late great Abraham Lincoln."
Trump also states that Clinton has "tremendous hate in her heart"and that former Democratic presidential candidateBernie Sanders, by agreeing to endorse Clinton, signed up "with the devil."
Trump also raises the sexual abuseallegations against Bill Clinton, saying"there's never been anyone in the history of politics in this nation who has been so abusive to women."
Trump also seems to be at odds with his running mate over whether or not to support Russia's use of militaryforcein the war inSyria."He and I haven't spoken, and he and I disagree," Trump says.
The debate also produces some new internet stars andmemes, including a fly that kept landing on Clinton:
I would rather vote for the fly that landed on Hillary's face, than either candidate. #PresidentialDebate pic.twitter.com/v2Vj6wiv1C
—@Kristyn_J
Town hall participant Ken Bone, who asked about energy policy, and his bright red sweater:
Ken Bone IMMEDIATELY contacted after #debate to star in a live-action remake of Toy Story 2 pic.twitter.com/cx3rienVLy
—@scotty_ski
And a woman in the audience who raisedher eyebrow when Trump referred to Clinton as"thedevil," prompting some to question whether she was truly an "undecided" voter.
Here's an undecided female voter when Trump called Clinton "the devil," which is everything you need to know about 2016. #debate pic.twitter.com/63eXCXjoyM
—@gbrockell
Monday
Ryan withdraws supportbut not his endorsement of Trump. This prompts Trump to tweet that he "should spend more time on balancing the budget, jobs and illegal immigration and not waste his time on fighting [the] Republican nominee."
Paul Ryan should spend more time on balancing the budget, jobs and illegal immigration and not waste his time on fighting Republican nominee
—@realDonaldTrump
Priebus, meanwhile, says he's sticking by Trump, dismissing reports that he had directed the RNC to redirect its resources away from Trump and to focus on the House and Senate races.
- Runaway Trump train divides Republican Party
- Trump says 'I was wrong' after 2005 video shows him bragging about groping women
- 8 moments from a bitter presidential town hall debate
WatchThe Choice 2016on the Passionate Eye on Sunday, Oct.16 at 10 p.m. ET & PT on CBC News Network for new insights into Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton and why they both want one of the most difficult jobs imaginable.