Trump Camp Slams Howard Dean’s ‘Desperate’ Cocaine Accusation

Donald Trump’s campaign late Tuesday blasted comments from former Vermont governor and Hillary Clinton supporter Howard Dean speculating that the candidate had used cocaine prior to Monday’s presidential debate, calling them “beyond the pale and a “desperate attempt to stay relevant.”

“Governor Dean’s comment was beyond the pale and has no place in our important political discussion,” the campaign’s statement to MSNBC’s Hallie Jackson read. “On a night where millions of Americans were able to compare and contrast the policies of both candidates, Governor Dean went straight to the gutter and was nothing more than a sad distraction in a desperate attempt to stay relevant.”

New: @realDonaldTrump camp on @GovHowardDean cocaine comments: “beyond the pale,” “to the gutter,” “desperate attempt to stay relevant” pic.twitter.com/NTnoZHiwbC

— Hallie Jackson (@HallieJackson) September 28, 2016

On Monday night, Dean (and many others) commented on Twitter that Trump was “sniffing all the time” during the debate. “Coke user?” Dean speculated:

Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?

— Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) September 27, 2016

Dean defended those comments to MSNBC’s Kate Snow on Tuesday afternoon, saying Trump “has trouble with pressured speech.”

“He interrupted Hillary Clinton 29 times. He couldn’t keep himself together,” Dean said. “So, look, do I think at 70 years old he has a cocaine habit? Probably not. But, you know, it’s something that—I think it would be interesting to ask him and see if he ever had a problem with that.”