More developments were made this weekend regarding the sexual assault case against Presidential candidate and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Tara Reade, former staffer and the woman who has accused Biden of sexual assault, said that Biden “had me up against the wall” and “used his knee to spread open my legs,” penetrating her with his fingers.
Reade says that Biden not only assaulted her then, but he had been harassed more than once while she worked as an aide. Biden had “put his hand on my shoulder and run his finger up my neck,” she said; Reade’s brother, Collin Moulton, also recalled that she had told him Biden said she had “nice legs.” She complained about the harassment, which resulted in her eventually losing her job.
Biden has denied the allegations. In a statement, a campaign aide commented, “Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women. He authored and fought for the passage and reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act. He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard – and heard respectfully.”
This is true — Biden has spoken up against sexual assault countless times. An allegation of sexual assault seems out of character if you look at Biden on paper, but it is never that simple — which is why an investigation needs to take place.
“… I would be willing to go under oath or cooperate with any law enforcement regarding it, because it did happen,” Reade told Insider. “I will not be smeared, dismissed or ignored. I stand in truth and I will keep speaking out.”
Clinton, who just endorsed Biden yesterday, has also been an advocate against sexual assault, especially for women. The online women’s town hall also did not address the allegations. It puts into question how important it is to support Biden during these times. Should we believe the assaulter like a feminist, stand up for the country like a patriot, or fight against Donald Trump like a partisan?
Speaking of partisanship, prominent democrats have declined to speak on the allegation, and the story was dead until this weekend. Amy Kcholubar spoke about it during an interview with NPR, however; “… all women in these cases have the right to be heard and have their claims thoroughly reviewed,” she said. Klochubar could be Biden’s pick for VP; perhaps her support for women will humble the Biden campaign.
This weekend, multiple people Reade knew at the time of the assault have come forward and said that they remember her speaking of the assault, confirming the allegation to be true. Others who worked alongside the former aide who said they were told about the assault at the time it happened have also said that Reade is telling the truth. Reade’s brother has said that he remembered his sister telling him “Biden put his hand ‘under her clothes.’”
It appears that her mother, whom Reade told about the assault after it happened, called into Larry King to ask for advice about it in August of 1933, months after when the alleged assault occurred. The caller was from San Luis Obispo, California, and insinuated that a “prominent senator” had done something inappropriate, but did not specify what that behavior was. In response to Reade’s mother’s call, King asked, “She had a story to tell but out of respect for the person she worked for, she didn’t tell it?” “That’s true,” said who is assumed to be the mother.
This much is clear.
In 1993 the mother of Tara Reade was so disturbed by what her daughter told her @JoeBiden did to her, & the lack of help she said she got from his staff, that she called Larry King to talk about it the week Tara stopped working for himpic.twitter.com/WOlPdjLNyP
— Shaun King (@shaunking) April 25, 2020
Of course, the news that Biden has made a woman uncomfortable is not new. Last year, many women came out to say that they felt as though they had been inappropriately touched by Biden — claims that Biden did not refute quite as strongly as his aides refuted Reade’s claim of assault. In response to last year’s claims, “… not once — never — did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention.” Biden may not believe he acted inappropriately, but the women in question are positive that he did.
This allegation may be another point of attack for Trump, though it is unlikely to be very effective, as President Trump has very many allegations of sexual misconduct also placed on him. It seems as though it has been a while since we have had a presidential candidate or political figure who does not have sexual assault allegations against him (Barack Obama), but we can only hope for better options for our Country — perhaps the next election cycle?
