{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-joins-colleagues-call-investigation-sexual-misconduct", "Pingree Joins Colleagues to Call For Investigation into Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against President Trump", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "At a press conference this afternoon, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) joined fellow members of the Democratic Women\u2019s Working Group calling on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for an official investigation into 17 sexual misconduct claims against President Trump.\u00a0\nPingree was one of 59 members to sign a letter to the Committee making a formal request for an investigation.\u00a0\nThis morning, Pingree also responded to Trump\u2019s Twitter attacks on the women who have accused him of sexual harassment.\u00a0\n \n\t.@POTUS denying stories of women on Twitter makes an even stronger case for investigating allegations of #sexualharassment against him. We all heard the bus tape, @RealDonaldTrump. I'm one of 56 Members of Congress demanding accountability. #mepolitics https://t.co/tN0MkB70rT\n\t\u2014 Chellie Pingree (@chelliepingree) December 12, 2017 \nTEXT OF THE LETTER TO THE COMMITTEE:\nDear Chairman Gowdy and Ranking Member Cummings,  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the House of Representatives and may at \u201cany time\u201d investigate \u201cany matter\u201d as set forth in House Rule X. In that regard, as Members of the Democratic Women\u2019s Working Group, we are requesting that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform investigate the reports of sexual misconduct raised against President Trump, many of which he has denied. The American people deserve a full inquiry into the truth of these allegations.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tAt least 17 women have publicly accused the President of sexual misconduct. Natasha Stoynoff recounted how the President pushed her against a wall and forced his tongue down her throat. Jill Harth described how the President attempted to get up her dress. Kristin Anderson detailed how the President touched her genitals through her underwear. Mariah Billado, Rachel Crooks, Tasha Dixon, Jessica Drake, Cathy Heller, Samantha Holvey, Ninni Laaksonen, Jessica Leeds, Temple Taggart McDowell, Mindy McGillivray, Cassandra Searles, Bridget Sullivan, Karena Virginia, and Summer Zervos also offered alarming accounts.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe President\u2019s own remarks appear to back up the allegations. The President has boasted in public and in crude terms that he feels at liberty to perpetrate such conduct against women. Subsequently, Mr. Trump apologized and called it \u201clocker room talk.\u201d He has since called all his accusers liars.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tIn the time of \u201cMe Too,\u201d women across the country are coming forward with their own harrowing stories of sexual harassment and assault. Members of Congress have also come under scrutiny and investigation, with some resigning, for improper sexual conduct. We cannot ignore the multitude of women who have come forward with accusations against Mr. Trump. With that said, the President should be allowed to present evidence in his own defense.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPlease respond with a decision within 10 days so that the Democratic Women\u2019s Working Group can proceed accordingly. We await your prompt response.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-joins-colleagues-call-investigation-sexual-misconduct"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1076340451836586, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}