Kellyan Conway, a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump and one of his administration's most prominent faces, revealed that she was the victim of a sexual assault without further details on the perpetrator or when it happened.
Conway said in an interview with CNN's State of the Union, as she defended the nomination of President Trump's nominee, Judge Brett Cavanaugh, to the Supreme Court.
"I am deeply sympathetic to the victims of sexual assault, sexual harassment and rape," she said.
"I am a victim of sexual assault. I do not expect Judge Cavanaugh, Jake Taber, Jeff Flick or anyone else to be responsible. You should be responsible for your own behavior, "without further details.
The announcer, who seemed surprised by Conway's announcement, expressed his sympathy for the presidential adviser. "It's the first time I've ever heard you talking about such personal things. I'm sorry".
"It happened," she replied.
He said Conway continued to work with President Trump, despite several allegations of sexual misconduct.
But Conway, who said earlier in the interview that sexual abuse was politicized, defended her position.
"Do not confuse the two and certainly do not confuse this with what happened to me," said the presidential chancellor.
"Trump is not always in everything that happens in the world," she said.
Trump on Friday ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to conduct further investigations into Judge Cavanaugh, who is accused of sexual abuse, leading to the postponement of a pending Senate vote for confirmation in the Supreme Court.
Earlier on Friday, the Senate Justice Committee approved Cavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court, following his testimony and the testimony of a woman accused of molesting her 36 years ago, amid mutual accusations among members of Congress.