Darla Shine, the wife of new White House deputy chief of staff for communications Bill Shine, claimed during a radio show she hosted over a decade ago that women who enlist in the armed forces should expect to be sexually harassed and she even mocked victims of sexual harassment in the military.
CNN's KFile reviewed hours of audio from Darla Shine's radio program after her controversial views came to light. Speaking in August 2009, Shine declared herself a "sexist" and said women serving with men in the military should expect to be sexually harassed.
"And why on earth would you fight to go on the submarine ship for months on end? You know there was just a story with these girls, these women who are upset that they are sexually harassed in the military," Shine said. "What do you think is going to happen when you go on a submarine for 12 months with 4,000 horny soldiers?”
"I hate to say it, but it's true. They should not even be allowed. The top military should say, 'No way, you're not allowed.' But you know, the feminists have fought for these rights. It's so stupid. I don't know why anybody would want that."
Shine pushed her controversial views to a much wider audience and in much more depth on the "Darla Shine Show," a radio broadcast she hosted on the Talk Radio Network in 2008 and 2009 that boasted syndication on 100 radio stations across the United States.
Darla Shine routinely invited as guests those who were prominent members of an anti-vaccination movement and pushed conspiracy theories about vaccines herself. Shine also weighed in on cultural and political issues.
She did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The White House did not respond to CNN KFile's request about whether Bill Shine endorses his wife's views.
Shine also passed on a false "rumor" that former U.S. President Barack Obama could not get a security clearance when running for president.
She claimed to believe in UFOs and interviewed self-identified alien abductees.
At the top of her radio program, a man's voice reads out a disclaimer, saying, "Warning: This is the 'Darla Shine Show.' Everything you hear is Darla's opinion. Some facts are true; others are made up. So take what you want, use what you can and you get what you get so don't get upset."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 12, 2018 10:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).