'I cop all this s***': Pauline Hanson breaks down

Pauline Hanson has opened up about the latest One Nation crisis.

Ms Hanson on A Current Affair. Source: A Current Affair.

Ms Hanson on A Current Affair. Source: A Current Affair. Source: AAP

Pauline Hanson has fought back tears during a TV interview as the fallout continues over Steve Dickson and James Ashby's controversial US trip.

"I cop all this s*** all the time, and I'm sick of it. Absolutely sick of it," the One Nation leader told Nine's A Current Affair on Tuesday night.

Earlier in the day, Senator Hanson accepted Mr Dickson's resignation after footage emerged of the One Nation senate candidate groping dancers and making disparaging comments about a woman at a Washington DC strip club.

Leaked footage of  Steve Dickson.
Leaked footage of Steve Dickson. Source: A Current Affair

"I am upset. I have worked with this for 23 years ... I have had ups and downs. I'm kicked in the guts time and time again. It happens right before an election," the party leader told Tracy Grimshaw.

"I have been let down dreadfully ... I can give you a whole list of them. A whole list of people having a go at me ... I have had Fraser Anning and Brian Burston and a whole list, David Oldfield, all of them. Where are they now?"

Ms Hanson on A Current Affair.
Pauline Hanson on A Current Affair. Source: A Current Affair

The recording of Mr Dickson was captured by an undercover journalist and leaked to A Current Affair.

Senator Hanson accused the Qatari-backed television news network Al Jazeera - which recorded the footage last year - of trying to hurt her party three weeks out from the federal election.

Steve Dickson allegedly in the strip club.
Steve Dickson allegedly in the strip club. Source: A Current Affair

Senator Hanson said "this was a sting three years in the making to discredit One Nation and pull us down".

Al Jazeera said it did not give Nine permission to screen the footage, filmed as part of an undercover investigation into meetings about political donations between Mr Dickson, Senator Hanson's chief of staff Mr Ashby and America's National Rifle Association.

Mr Dickson's name will still appear on the upper house ballot paper on May 18 but Senator Hanson said voters would know he no longer represented One Nation.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson held a press conference on Tuesday morning.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson held a press conference on Tuesday morning. Source: AAP

Mr Dickson issued a statement saying he was very upset with himself.

"I found the footage difficult to watch as my words and actions under intoxication and in that environment are not a true reflection of myself," he said.

"I am also deeply remorseful for my disrespectful comments towards women.

"The footage shown does not reflect the person I am. It shows a person who was drunk and not in control of his actions."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten condemned Mr Dickson's comments as "absolutely appalling".

Additional reporting: AAP


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