Sen. Rand Paul Steps Up Crusade Against 'Sexual Predator' Bill Clinton

(Timothy D. Easley/AP Photo)

Sen. Rand Paul's latest dig against Democrats and Hillary Clinton is a '90's throwback.

In several recent interviews, including one today, Paul, R-Ky., attacked former President Bill Clinton, who has been dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct for decades, as a "sexual predator" and challenged Democrats to return money Clinton has raised on their behalf.

"They can't have it both ways," Paul told C-SPAN's Newsmakers in an interview that will air fully on Sunday. "The Democrats can't say we're the greatest defenders of women's rights in the workplace and we will defend you against some kind of abusive boss that uses their position of authority to take advantage of a young women when the leader of their party, the leading fundraiser in the country, is Bill Clinton who was a perpetrator of that kind of sexual harassment."

"Anybody who wants to take money from Bill Clinton or have a fundraiser has a lot of explaining to do," he added. "In fact I think they should give the money back."

It isn't the first time Paul has gone after Clinton. In a separate interview this week with Newsmax TV, Paul suggested that Hillary Clinton might need to return money from Clinton.

"What if that unsavory character is your husband?" Paul asked. "What if that unsavory character is Bill Clinton raising money for people across the country, and what if he were someone that was guilty of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior at the workplace - which, obviously, having sex with an intern at the office is inappropriate by any standard."

He added that Clinton is a "repetitive" sexual predator and an "unsavory character" who has already paid more than $800,000 for sexual harassment, a reference to a case Clinton settled against Paula Jones, without admitting wrongdoing.

"Yeah, I mean, a predator, a sexual predator, basically," Paul said. "Repetitive-you know there's dozens or at least a half a dozen public women have come forward."

Today, it was announced that Bill Clinton will campaign next month on behalf of Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes, who is running against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Paul ally.

That race to unseat the top Republican in the Senate is expected to be one of the most closely watched of 2014, will also likely feature attacks on Republicans for their positions on women's issues like the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Democrats have pushed back by highlighting Paul's votes against bills like the Violence Against Women Act and his support for anti-abortion legislation.

"If his claims of concern for women are sincere he should start by rethinking his opposition to the Violence Against Women's Act, paycheck fairness and the right of women to make their own health care decisions," said Lily Adams, deputy communications director for the Democratic National Committee in a statement.