What to Know About the Recent Accusation Against Former Vice President Joe Biden
This past Friday, former assemblywoman Lucy Flores published an essay titled "An Awkward Kiss Changed How I Saw Joe Biden," in which she detailed an incident from 2014, when she was running for lieutenant governor in Nevada. At the time, Biden had decided to attend a rally for Flores in order to boost voter turnout, and the two were waiting backstage together.
Flores wrote, "As I was taking deep breaths and preparing myself to make my case to the crowd, I felt two hands on my shoulders. I froze. 'Why is the vice-president of the United States touching me?' I felt him get closer to me from behind. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair. I was mortified. I thought to myself, 'I didn’t wash my hair today and the vice-president of the United States is smelling it. And also, what in the actual fuck? Why is the vice-president of the United States smelling my hair?' He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldn’t process what was happening. I was embarrassed. I was shocked. I was confused."
She continued, "He stopped treating me like a peer the moment he touched me. Even if his behavior wasn’t violent or sexual, it was demeaning and disrespectful. I wasn’t attending the rally as his mentee or even his friend; I was there as the most qualified person for the job," before referencing how other articles over the years have critiqued Biden's inappropriate behavior toward women.
Flores later went on CNN, where she said she hopes her essay evolves into a bigger discussion "about how there is no accountability structure within our political space." She said, "We are not protected in politics, and frankly, on a much larger scale, we also need to have a conversation about powerful men feeling that they have the right to invade a woman's space whenever they'd like."
Early on Sunday, Biden released a statement in response: "In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expression of affection, support and comfort. And 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."
He continued, "I may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised at what I hear. But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will."
While Biden, who has been rumored to be considering entering the 2020 presidential race, has yet to announce if he's running, a few of the other 2020 candidates have spoken out about Flores's essay. Sen. Bernie Sanders told CBS he has "no reason not to believe Lucy," and when asked whether he thinks the accusation is disqualifying, Sanders said, "I think that's a decision for the vice president to make. I'm not sure that one incident alone disqualifies anybody."
Sen. Elizabeth Warren also said she believes Flores and added, "Joe Biden needs to give an answer." When asked whether Biden should still enter the race, Warren said, "That's for Joe Biden to decide." Similarly, Sen. Amy Klobuchar told ABC she has "no reason not to believe" Flores and that Biden will "continue to address [the incident] if he decides to get into this race."
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