More than 100 Democratic lawmakers in the United States have signed on to a call for a House of Representatives oversight committee to probe sexual assault and harassment claims against President Donald Trump.

Lois Franken, a US lawmaker from Florida and chair of the Democratic Women’s Working Group (DWWG), said “the time is right to get to the truth” about the allegations against the Republican president.

At least 17 women have made accusations against Trump for inappropriate sexual behaviour, including unwanted kissing, touching and groping, according to a letter released this week by DWWG demanding an impartial inquiry.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Franken said the number of lawmakers backing the call for the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to probe the president’s alleged misconduct had exceeded 100.

“And that number is rising,” added Franken.

“The #MeToo movement has arrived,” she noted, referring to the phrase women around the world have used in recent months to share experiences of sexual assault and harassment.

“Sexual abuse will not be tolerated, whether it's by a Hollywood producer, a chef of a restaurant, a member of Congress, or the president of the United States.”

The probe call comes a day after Samantha Holvey, Rachel Crooks and Jessica Leeds – three women who have accused Trump of sexually inappropriate behaviour in separate incidents that took place before he was elected – also demanded a congressional investigation into the president’s alleged behaviour.

Trump denies allegations

The president rejected the accusations against him earlier on Tuesday, saying on Twitter that Democrats were pushing “the false accusations and fabricated stories of women who I don’t know and/or have never met”.

“FAKE NEWS!” Trump wrote.

But in the letter asking for an investigation, the DWWG – a body that consists of all 66 female Democratic Party lawmakers who hold seats in the House – said it “cannot ignore the multitude of women who have come forward with accusations against Mr. Trump”.

“Natasha Stoynoff recounted how the president pushed her against a wall and forced his tongue down her throat,” the letter read.

“Jill Harth described how the president attempted to get up her dress. Kristin Anderson detailed how the president touched her genitals through her underwear,” it added, referring to two other women who are also among the 17 to have publicly accused Trump of sexual misconduct.

And while Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on the motivations of his accusers, the women’s stories come as a movement to hold men responsible for sexual misconduct, assault and harassment gathers pace across the US and the world. (Al Jazeera)

Update news