Former US president George HW Bush apologises after actress claims he 'sexually assaulted' her from his WHEELCHAIR in this photograph - with his wife Barbara standing by his side

Former President George HW Bush has apologised after an actress claimed he groped her from his wheelchair during a photo opportunity.

Heather Lind, 34, who starred in AMC's series 'Turn: Washington's Spies', alleged that the 93-year-old touched her from behind and made a 'dirty joke'.

She met the 41st president when she was promoting the historical TV programme in 2014.

Ms Lind alleges that Bush Senior continued to touch her while they were being photographed and that a security guard for the former president had told her she should not have stood next to him.

The actress says she was prompted to reveal her alleged ordeal when she saw Mr Bush Senior photographed alongside Barack Obama and other former presidents who were helping to fundraise for hurricane relief.

She says she had decided to come forward because of “the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences.”

Ms Lind made the claims on Instagram in a post which she has since deleted.

"When I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo. H

"He didn't shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke," Lind alleges.

In a statement, the former president responded: "President Bush would never - under any circumstance - intentionally cause anyone distress, and he most sincerely apologises if his attempt at humour offended Ms. Lind."

The actress took to Instagram to make the allegations against the former president.

Lind said in her since-deleted Instagram post: "We were instructed to call him Mr. President.

"It seems to me a President's power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy."

"He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me," Lind wrote.

Her post goes on to say: "What comforts me is that I too can use my power, which isn't so different from a President really.

"I can enact positive change. I can actually help people. I can be a symbol of my democracy."

"I can refuse to call him President, and call out other abuses of power when I see them," she writes.

The incident allegedly happened during a photo-op at a private screening for the AMC series 'Turn'.

The actress said she shared the allegations against Bush with people on her AMC series.

She said she had decided to come forward because of “the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences.”

Heather Lind's claims:

I was disturbed today by a photo I saw of President Barack Obama shaking hands with George H. W. Bush in a gathering of ex-presidents organizing aid to states and territories damaged by recent hurricanes.

I found it disturbing because I recognize the respect ex-presidents are given for having served.

And I feel pride and reverence toward many of the men in the photo.

But when I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo.

He didn’t shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side.

He told me a dirty joke. And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again.

Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say “not again”.

His security guard told me I shouldn’t have stood next to him for the photo.

We were instructed to call him Mr. President.

It seems to me a President’s power is in his or her capacity to enact positive change, actually help people, and serve as a symbol of our democracy.

He relinquished that power when he used it against me and, judging from the comments of those around him, countless other women before me.

What comforts me is that I too can use my power, which isn’t so different from a President really.

I can enact positive change. I can actually help people. I can be a symbol of my democracy. I can refuse to call him President, and call out other abuses of power when I see them.

I can vote for a President, in part, by the nature of his or her character, knowing that his or her political decisions must necessarily stem from that character.

My fellow cast-mates and producers helped me that day and continue to support me.

I am grateful for the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences.

And I thank President Barack Obama for the gesture of respect he made toward George H. W. Bush for the sake of our country, but I do not respect him.