Trump Challenges Rival Clinton To A Drug Test

Republican candidate, Donald Trump. on Saturday called for Hillary Clinton to take a drug test before the candidates face off in their third debate next week. In the same time period, a ninth woman came forward to accuse Trump of assaulting her.

“I think we should take a drug test prior to the debate. Why don’t we do that?” Trump told a rally in New Hampshire before declaring of Clinton, “I don’t know what’s going on with her.”

Trump implied that Clinton had begun the last debate “all pumped up” on some sort of drug but could barely make it to her car by the end of the 90-minute contest.

He offered no evidence to support his claim.

Trump has repeatedly sought to raise questions about Clinton’s health. He questioned her stamina and pointed to a recent bout of pneumonia. He also hammered on the concussion she suffered while serving as secretary of state.

The republican candidate and Clinton will square off in their final televised debate on Wednesday evening.

Trump has struggled in opinion polls since a poor performance at the first debate followed by controversy over a 2005 video tape showing him talking lewdly about grabbing women’s genitals and allegations by several women that he had sexually assaulted them.

Ninth sex allegation against Trump

On Saturday, a ninth woman came forward to say that Trump had grabbed and tried to kiss her at a Mother’s Day brunch. This happened at his Mar-a-Lago estate in 1997 when she was introduced to him and became angry when she twisted away.

“And he said, ‘Oh, come on.’ He was strong. Then he grabbed me and went for my mouth. And went for my lips,” Cathy Heller, now 63, told the Guardian.

She was angry and shaken, she said, adding that the billionaire seemed to feel “entitled” to kiss her.

Trump says election has been rigged

Trump has charged repeatedly in recent days that the election is rigged against him. He has also alleged that Clinton and the media have colluded on false sexual assault charges.

“Hillary Clinton should have been prosecuted and should be in jail. Instead she is running for president in what looks like a rigged election,” he tweeted on Saturday.

“Nothing ever happened with any of these women. Totally made up nonsense to steal the election. Nobody has more respect for women than me!” he added later.

At a rally in North Carolina on Friday he suggested that at least one of the women who have made accusations against him was not attractive enough for him to have been interested in her. He also appeared to criticize Clinton’s appearance at their second debate.

“She walks in front of me, she walks in front of me, you know. And when she walked in front of me, believe me I wasn’t impressed,” he said of his rival.

The Clinton campaign on Saturday called Trump’s attempts to paint the election as unfair as “shameful attempts to undermine an election weeks before it happens.”

“Participation in the system — and particularly voting — should be encouraged. It should not be dismissed or undermined because a candidate is afraid he’s going to lose,” campaign manager Robby Mook said.

dpa/NAN