# Former staffer accuses Joe Biden of sexual assault **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 27, 2020, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393 "2020-03-27T03:13:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/381 "2020-04-13T02:30:23Z")
I fully admit to hoping that the recent allegations by Reade were outright false, but I also acknowledge leaving at least some space for the possibility that they could turn out to be true, despite being skeptical. Filing a police report knowing that the statute of limitations are long expired is only intensifying my skepticism. It’s a move that, IMO, makes absolutely no sense except to keep the story in the news. I concede that it’s on the one hand possible that she’s a woman who’s finally found the strength to come forward after all these years and finally tell her side of the story, but it seems that she already took advantage of that opportunity way back when everyone else was describing similar stories of inappropriate touching. But filing a police report knowing that there’s no way to prove the charges just strikes me as trivializing the event, which would seem to be the opposite of what someone in her situation would want to do. I understand that people can process trauma in their own individual way, but I’m also of the opinion that at the end of the day, any accusation - certainly one this serious - has to have substance. And this move seems to be trivial, and done out of some kind of personal spite that doesn’t necessarily seem connected with sexual trauma. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/382 "2020-04-13T02:32:01Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I figure this woman will be invited to speak at the GOP convention if she wants to. Or at the least she will be there giving interviews. Another Juanita Broadrrick. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/383 "2020-04-13T09:53:23Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I fully admit to hoping that the recent allegations by Reade were outright false, but I also acknowledge leaving at least some space for the possibility that they could turn out to be true, despite being skeptical. Filing a police report knowing that the statute of limitations are long expired is only intensifying my skepticism. It’s a move that, IMO, makes absolutely no sense except to keep the story in the news. > > I concede that it’s on the one hand possible that she’s a woman who’s finally found the strength to come forward after all these years and finally tell her side of the story, but it seems that she already took advantage of that opportunity way back when everyone else was describing similar stories of inappropriate touching. > > But filing a police report knowing that there’s no way to prove the charges just strikes me as trivializing the event, which would seem to be the opposite of what someone in her situation would want to do. I understand that people can process trauma in their own individual way, but I’m also of the opinion that at the end of the day, any accusation - certainly one this serious - has to have substance. And this move seems to be trivial, and done out of some kind of personal spite that doesn’t necessarily seem connected with sexual trauma. Blasting his name out on Twitter and a podcast only to file a police report that has no mention of his name (or any name) certainly does not help her claim. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/384 "2020-04-13T12:35:34Z")
So now we must wait and see if the NYT article is a full enough investigation for certain people. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/385 "2020-04-13T12:42:01Z")
I have no doubt that Joe was probably a touchy, feeling, butt-pinching creep back in the day, but that seems to have been litigated already and the country seems to have nominated him, for better or worse. In an ideal world, Joe Biden wouldn’t be the Dems’ best nominee. But we don’t live in an ideal world and it’s either an imperfect, flawed, old Joe Biden or 4 more years - and possibly more - of this shit show. The choice is obvious. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/386 "2020-04-13T12:52:26Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > So now we must wait and see if the NYT article is a full enough investigation for certain people. If this is directed at me, it looked like a pretty solid piece of journalistic investigation to me, at least as a starting point. We’ll see what else happens over the next several months. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/387 "2020-04-13T12:56:17Z")
Trump fans won’t believe the NY Times even if they printed the sky is blue and the sun rises in the east. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/388 "2020-04-13T13:15:05Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > If this is directed at me, it looked like a pretty solid piece of journalistic investigation to me, at least as a starting point. We’ll see what else happens over the next several months. At least as a starting point? What next, Columbo? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/389 "2020-04-13T13:32:36Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > At least as a starting point? What next, Columbo? I don’t know. I don’t have all the answers here. This isn’t an easy thing to figure out, so all I can think of is to stick to the principle that all allegations must be taken seriously and investigated. Even when it’s someone that I’m rooting for politically. I’m not certain what the extent of this and “endgame” of this is or should be, so I’m playing it by ear a bit. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/390 "2020-04-13T13:54:53Z")
> [@](#): > > ## The Times interviewed Ms. Reade on multiple days over hours, as well as those she told about Mr. Biden’s behavior and other friends. The Times has also interviewed lawyers who spoke to Ms. Reade about her allegation; nearly two dozen people who worked with Mr. Biden during the early 1990s, including many who worked with Ms. Reade; and the other seven women who criticized Mr. Biden last year, to discuss their experiences with him. > > ## Ms. Reade, who worked as a staff assistant helping manage the office interns, said she also filed a complaint with the Senate in 1993 about Mr. Biden; she said she did not have a copy of it, and such paperwork has not been located. You can hide behind “I don’t have all the answers” if you want but it makes your calls for further investigation pretty hollow. You want more but can in no way articulate what “more” is. You wanted a serious investigation, the NYT clearly did a thorough investigation but now, “it’s a start”. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/391 "2020-04-13T14:05:02Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > You can hide behind “I don’t have all the answers” if you want but it makes your calls for further investigation pretty hollow. You want more but can in no way articulate what “more” is. You wanted a serious investigation, the NYT clearly did a thorough investigation but now, “it’s a start”. Why is it hiding to say “I don’t know”? This looked like a serious investigative article, AFAICT. I’m trying to be careful to make sure my anti-Trump preference and bias isn’t leading or helping me rationalize or excuse some sort of less rigorous attitude WRT taking sexual assault allegations seriously. What am I supposed to say if I’m not absolutely certain? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/392 "2020-04-13T14:08:55Z")
You can say you’re uncertain but still accept that this has been investigated as far as possible. I’m sorry there’s no magical way to know the absolute truth. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/393 "2020-04-13T14:19:11Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > You can say you’re uncertain but still accept that this has been investigated as far as possible. I’m sorry there’s no magical way to know the absolute truth. I don’t know if I accept this, but I don’t need to immediately – there are months and months to go. There’s no need for me to make this decision right now (not that I matter in the scheme of things anyway!). ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/394 "2020-04-13T14:32:11Z")
What decision exactly are you talking about? Because I was just talking about your apparent insistence that this still needs more investigation. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/395 "2020-04-13T14:38:06Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > What decision exactly are you talking about? Because I was just talking about your apparent insistence that this still needs more investigation. On what I’m going to do as a Democrat and as a voter if I don’t think there’s been sufficient investigation (or if more allegations arise). ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/396 "2020-04-13T14:40:41Z")
Well, if this is basically your most burning political passion, I’m rather surprised you are so at sea as to what can be done about old accusations like this. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/397 "2020-04-13T14:55:12Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Well, if this is basically your most burning political passion, I’m rather surprised you are so at sea as to what can be done about old accusations like this. What can be done? Keep investigating until there’s nothing more to investigate. I’m at least sure of that. If there is anything more, hopefully it’s still being investigated. There’s a good possibility I’ll never know if this occurred, but I can still hope and advocate. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/398 "2020-04-13T15:08:24Z")
Earlier in the thread, you suggested that the DNC should hire the best PI in town. Is the NYT not a comparable investigation? You wanted coworkers, associates andfriends interviewed. They did that. You wanted employment records reviewed. They did that. You were waiting for more people to come forward. Nobody has and his earlier “touchy feely” accusers didn’t corroborate anything this accuser said. You want the investigation to continue but you’re fresh outta ideas. Oh well, you’re no expert on investigations of old sex crimes, merely an extremely interested observer. You are sure there must be something else to continue with. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/399 "2020-04-13T15:22:02Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Earlier in the thread, you suggested that the DNC should hire the best PI in town. Hopefully they did. > [@](#): > > Is the NYT not a comparable investigation? You wanted coworkers, associates andfriends interviewed. They did that. You wanted employment records reviewed. They did that. You were waiting for more people to come forward. Nobody has and his earlier “touchy feely” accusers didn’t corroborate anything this accuser said. Comparable? Perhaps. But I don’t think one investigation is necessarily enough. > [@](#): > > You want the investigation to continue but you’re fresh outta ideas. Oh well, you’re no expert on investigations of old sex crimes, merely an extremely interested observer. You are sure there must be something else to continue with. I’m not sure of anything. Why do I have to make any sort of conclusion now? Why is my uncertainty so unacceptable to you? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/400 "2020-04-13T15:58:39Z")
Because I percieve it as impossible to satisfy not uncertainty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393.md?page=21)