Joe Biden accused of sexual assault by former aide Tara Reade. His campaign denies it
- Tara Reade is one of eight women who said Joe Biden had hugged, kissed or touched them in ways that made them uncomfortable
- Joe Biden’s campaign says Reade’s accusation was ‘untrue, absolutely did not happen’
A former aide to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has in several media interviews accused him of sexually assaulting her nearly 30 years ago when he was a US senator, an assertion that Biden’s campaign has strongly denied.
Tara Reade, who worked briefly as a staff assistant in Biden’s Senate office from December 1992 to August 1993, told The New York Times, The Washington Post and other news outlets that Biden pinned her against a wall in 1993 and reached under her shirt and her skirt.
A campaign spokeswoman for Biden, the former vice-president, said in a statement on Tuesday that the accusation was false.
“He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard – and heard respectfully,” the spokeswoman, Kate Bedingfield, said. “Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press. What is clear about this claim: It is untrue. This absolutely did not happen.”
Reuters was unable to reach Reade or a representative for comment on Tuesday or to identify a lawyer representing her.
Reade filed a police report in Washington, DC, last week about the accusation, according to news reports, although the statute of limitations for prosecution has expired.