Former Assistant Madeleine Westerhout Reveals GOP Considered Replacing Her After 2016 ‘Access Hollywood’ Scandal

Republican officials considered replacing former President Donald Trump as the party’s 2016 candidate after a leaked tape showed him making derogatory remarks about women to an “Access Hollywood” anchor, Trump’s ex-assistant Madeleine Westerhout testified Thursday. The tape has now become a central part of his New York criminal trial.

Westerhout, who worked at the Republican National Committee during the 2016 election, testified that RNC officials discussed how to replace Trump as the party’s candidate “if it came to that.” The tape, first reported by The Washington Post in October 2016, shows Trump speaking with former “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush, making comments about women and remarking he “grab[bed] them by the p***y.”

The tape and Trump’s comments in it have resurfaced at the trial, with witnesses testifying that it put pressure on Trump and ex-attorney Michael Cohen to pay adult film actress Stormy Daniels to cover up her allegations of an affair with Trump. Trump is on trial for falsifying records in connection with reimbursing Cohen for the payment.

Westerhout, who served as Trump’s executive assistant and director of Oval Office operations, will continue testifying when the trial resumes on Friday. With approximately three weeks left in the trial, potential witnesses include Trump’s children and ex-attorney Rudy Giuliani. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 34 felony charges against him for falsifying business records related to the Daniels payment. The “Access Hollywood” tape marked a major scandal for the Trump campaign, and evidence in the trial has shown how it rattled the campaign.