ST. LOUIS — Donald Trump held a news conference Sunday with several women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual improprieties, ahead of the second presidential debate against Hillary Clinton, which came amid criticism of lewd remarks Trump has made.

“Thank you very much for coming. These four very courageous women have asked to be here and it was our honor to help them. And I think they're each going to make just an individual, short statement. And then (we) will do a little meeting, and we will see you at the debate,” Trump said at the news conference, which was held at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis.

With Trump were Paula Jones, Juanita Broaddrick and Kathleen Willey, who have all accused Bill Clinton of sexual improprieties. Also seated at the table was Kathy Shelton, a victim of child rape whose alleged rapist Hillary Clinton defended as his court-appointed attorney decades ago.

“Mr. Trump may have said some bad words, but Bill Clinton raped me and Hillary Clinton threatened me. I don't think there's any comparison,” Broaddrick told reporters who had been invited to attend the news conference.

Broaddrick has made such statements before, but no criminal case has been litigated and the Clintons deny the accusations.

Shelton gave an emotional testimonial.

“At 12 years old Hillary put me through something that you would never put a 12 year old through,” Shelton said. “And she says she's for women and children and she was asked last year what happened and she said she's supposed to defend whether they did it or not. Now she's laughing on tape saying she (knows) they did it.”

The Clinton campaign denounced the news conference, calling it an “act of desperation.”