Bolton 'would bang on my door and shout'

[emad]

Businesswoman tells 'IoS' how administration's choice for UN ambassador raged at her for two weeks in Moscow hotel
By Andrew Buncombe in Washington
24 April 2005


Melody Townsel, a Texas public relations executive, could cause President George Bush the first defeat of his second term. Her evidence about the behaviour of John Bolton, one of Mr Bush's favourites, looks increasingly likely to scupper his appointment as US ambassador to the UN.

Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, already uneasy about reports of the nominee's persistent bullying and short temper, delayed a confirmation vote after Ms Townsel told them Mr Bolton screamed and shouted at her in a Moscow hotel more than a decade ago. She now believes he is unfit to represent the US.

Ms Townsel, who runs her own agency in Dallas, told The Independent on Sunday that Mr Bolton had banged on her hotel room door and ranted at her over a two-week period in 1994. He also made disparaging remarks about her weight, accused her of theft and even questioned her sexuality.

"I was alone in the hotel room. It was easy for him to drop by and bang on the door, trying to pressure me until I broke," she said. "Several times a day he would pound on the door and shout 'This is not going to go away. I don't know what you're doing.' "

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=632440