Amid a wave of reports of women alleging Donald Trump kissed or groped them without their consent, Lt. Gov. maintained Thursday that the Republican presidential nominee has effectively pushed the issue behind him.
Patrick, who is Texas Chairman for Trump's presidential campaign, initially addressed the scandal currently dominating the presidential campaign Wednesday to
鈥淭his story is kind of in the rear-view mirror now,鈥� Patrick said, referring to an 11-year-old tape that showed Trump bragging about kissing and groping women without their consent.
Wednesday evening, several news outlets published reports featuring women accusing Trump of activities similar to what he talked about doing in the 2005 video. First, in which two women accused Trump of touching them inappropriately.
鈥淗e was like an octopus,鈥� . 鈥淗is hands were everywhere.鈥�
she was groped by Trump 13 years ago. Trump of "forcing his tongue" down her throat.
Trump denied the . On Twitter, : "The phony story in the failing @nytimes is a TOTAL FABRICATION. Written by same people as last discredited story on women. WATCH!"
In a statement to The Texas Tribune, spokesman Allen Blakemore said Patrick continues to believe voters see the Trump tape story "through the rear view mirror."
"As far as new allegations published in the New York Times, the Lieutenant Governor thinks the voters will decide that they are far more concerned about the direction of the Supreme Court, the economy and national security than a decades old tawdry tabloid story published in a newspaper that has already endorsed Mrs. Clinton," Blakemore said.
Patrick was in the 11-year-old tape but continued to support his presidential campaign. Several Republicans have since called on Trump to step aside and forsake the party's nomination, including U.S. Rep. of San Antonio. Hurd is in Texas' only competitive congressional race this November against Democrat .
On Capital Tonight, for calling on Trump to drop out.
鈥淲ill Hurd is a terrific congressman,鈥� Patrick . 鈥淚f an individual person, we鈥檙e talking about one out of our whole delegation, makes a decision that they don鈥檛 want to be tied to the top, that鈥檚 their decision.鈥�
Patrick also did not walk back his criticisms of Trump.
鈥淣o one in the Republican Party or anyone in society accepts what he said,鈥� Patrick 鈥淗e apologized, you move on. The future of the country is at stake.鈥�
When asked if there was a situation that could cause Patrick to rescind his endorsement of Trump, he : 鈥淚 can鈥檛 answer a hypothetical.鈥�
provided this story.
