George Soros Image by Getty Images

President Trump accused billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros of planting two women in an elevator with Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, where they shared with him their stories of sexual assault as part of an effort to get him to vote against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Trump tweeted on Friday morning that the “very rude elevator screamers are paid professionals only looking to make Senators look bad.” He also claimed the signs, which look professionally made, were identical — therefore paid by Soros.

The very rude elevator screamers are paid professionals only looking to make Senators look bad. Don’t fall for it! Also, look at all of the professionally made identical signs. Paid for by Soros and others. These are not signs made in the basement from love! #Troublemakers

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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2018

Soros, who is Jewish, has long been at the forefront of several right-wing conspiracy theories.

The “screamers” Trump speaks of, Ana Maria Archila and Maria Gallagher, decided to take a trip to Flake’s office on Sept. 28 after they saw his statement of support for Kavanaugh, CBS News reported. The day before, Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school, read her emotional testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Archila is the co-executive director of Make the Road New York and executive director of Make the Road Action Fund, according to her Twitter bio. Soros’s son, Alex, has supported Make the Road New York, which advocates for Latino and working class communities.

After Archila and Gallagher confronted Flake, the Arizona senator altered his decision, saying he would move the nomination from committee to the full senate so long as the FBI reopened its investigation into the alleged assault.

Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at [email protected], or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher

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