# 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:** 27
**Author:** ![Organism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Organism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Organism)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/521 "2020-04-29T05:58:32Z")
Better a “wanker” (the fuck?) than a longwinded half-coherent rape apologist I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/522 "2020-04-29T08:34:42Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Did you just fall off a turnip truck? > I’ve despised Shitbag Sanders since October 2015. Before that, he was just a useless blowhard backbencher with no political clout. > > Sanders supporters on Twitter were assholes to everyone. Unlike everyone, Pete won Iowa and tied for delegates in New Hampshire. > > Bernie will be dead and rotting in a box within a few years, his only influence being that he raised a generation of trolls with no political power. > > Pete is the future of the Democratic Party. > > Oh, and Bernie lost. This just in, Sanders to change his first name from Bernie to Shitbag, says Dale convinced him. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/523 "2020-04-29T12:10:44Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > #MeToo isn’t about Democrats or Republicans – it’s about changing society as a whole, which largely still treats women like shit if they dare to speak out about their experiences with powerful men. Before about 2016 or so, the Democratic party was pretty much just as bad as the Republicans on this issue, routinely sweeping accusations under the rug to protect powerful men. But that they’ve made some progress and the Republicans have gotten worse doesn’t mean that it’s blown up in their face when someone accuses the prospective nominee. > > #MeToo is still working and still doing good for the country. Taking this allegation seriously is still a good thing. Hell, even politically speaking, it’s very good for Biden that this is coming out now – after he’s wrapped up the nomination, but early enough that it’s likely to blow over before the general election, especially with everyone focused on COVID. #metoo is definitely a good thing. The Democratic party hitching themselves to it and then doing absolutely zilch to get out in front of this (Wasn’t it you iiandyiii that demanded that the accused party, Kavanaugh at the time, prove their innocence) but now, you’re hopeful it blows over. This is exactly the mindset of the hypocrite. Yes you still want the investigation but you damn sure aren’t criticizing Biden or his team for letting it slide, in fact, it’s a hope from you, that it does. If Kavanaugh shouldn’t have been appointed because of an accusation that was found false, why is Biden any different to you, with basically NO investigation? Oh, I get that one you choose to believe and one you didn’t but I personally don’t give a shit about your belief, only proof. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/524 "2020-04-29T12:19:53Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Perhaps AOC can mix me a ruthlessly efficient martini, but that’s about all I expect of her so far. Maybe she can slip into that short little dress and heels you like so much. :dubious: WTF is wrong with you? ---
**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 29, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/525 "2020-04-29T13:59:10Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > #metoo is definitely a good thing. > > The Democratic party hitching themselves to it and then doing absolutely zilch to get out in front of this (Wasn’t it you iiandyiii that demanded that the accused party, Kavanaugh at the time, prove their innocence) but now, you’re hopeful it blows over. No idea what this refers to. I’m unconvinced the party is handling this properly, but we won’t know for certain about this for a while. Hopefully they’re still thoroughly investigating it. I’ve responded to both circumstances the same – they should be taken seriously and fully investigated prior to actual voting (confirmation or at the convention, for these cases). Thankfully for the Democrats, there’s plenty of time before the convention, so hopefully they’re doing the right thing. > [@](#): > > Yes you still want the investigation but you damn sure aren’t criticizing Biden or his team for letting it slide, in fact, it’s a hope from you, that it does. I’ve expressed no hopes in this thread, except the hope that it be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. Oh, and maybe the hope that Biden drops out ASAP – which I’ve advocated for for months. > [@](#): > > If Kavanaugh shouldn’t have been appointed because of an accusation that was found false I’m unaware that Ford’s accusation was “found false”. > [@](#): > > why is Biden any different to you, with basically NO investigation? There’s been some investigation – I don’t know yet whether it’s been thorough or not. Unlike the GOP’s sham investigation, at least it hasn’t been artificially and purposefully restricted in time and scope, so at least it has that going for it. But I’m not treating these any differently. If you look at my posting history, this should be clear. All allegations should be taken seriously and fullyl investigated. The Senate did not take the Ford allegation seriously and fully investigate it. Hopefully this one is being fully investigated. Information continues to come out about it, so hopefully it is. > [@](#): > > Oh, I get that one you choose to believe and one you didn’t but I personally don’t give a shit about your belief, only proof. No idea what this refers to in any of my posts. Are you just arguing with some phantom bogeyman version of me that only exists in your head? If so, I recommend you just focus on the words I post. I’m usually very careful with my words. ---
**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 29, 2020, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/526 "2020-04-29T14:09:22Z")
**Kearsen1** , This reminds me of [another time](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21883764&postcount=842) you made an inaccurate claim about me. I recommend calming down, breathing, and just focusing on the words I post, not whatever preconceived and possibly inaccurate notions you have about me as a poster. You appear to be getting things wrong about my posts again and again. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/527 "2020-04-29T16:49:04Z")
Here’s the Washington Post’s[latest reporting on the investigation.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/29/sexual-allegations-against-joe-biden-corroborators/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most) ---
**Author:** ![Manwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Manwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manwich)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/528 "2020-04-29T16:56:39Z")
What are the ethics of holding someone accountable for a crime they can’t recall or even comprehend? We don’t put rich whire senior folks away in jail when they start to get doddery and shoplift or grope nurses and if Biden is the candidate, vote Blue and so forth. On the other hand, maybe Biden has just been putting on an act to seem mentally incompetent and there are more cases out there. Has his team been building a defence of mental incompetence to avoid charges? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/529 "2020-04-29T18:30:44Z")
NYT media columnist Ben Smith [calls on Biden](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/495260-nyts-ben-smith-media-should-ask-biden-to-open-his-personal-papers-to) to “open his personal papers to inspection” . ---
**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 29, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/530 "2020-04-29T18:39:34Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Here’s the Washington Post’s[latest reporting on the investigation.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/29/sexual-allegations-against-joe-biden-corroborators/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most) Behind a paywall – can you summarize? ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/531 "2020-04-29T18:58:50Z")
From the article cited > [@](#): > > When journalists write about incidents that occurred long ago, especially serious allegations such as sexual misconduct, a key goal is to find people who will say that they heard about the incident at the time. > . . . > > As we noted, contemporaneous accounts are essential to establishing the credibility of the allegation because they reduce the chances that a person is making up a story for political purposes. In the case of sexual allegations, such accounts can help bolster the credibility of the “she said” side of the equation. Often, a sexual assault will happen behind closed doors. The contemporary corroborators can explain what they heard at the time and whether the story being told now is consistent with how the story was told years earlier. This does not necessarily mean the allegation is true, but it does give a journalistic organization more confidence to report on the allegation. > [@](#): > > As a reader service, here are the details of the allegation and the corroborating evidence that so far has emerged . . . > > Tara Reade > > Allegation: In 1993, when she was a 29-year-old staff assistant in Biden’s Senate office, Biden pinned her against a wall, reached under her skirt and pushed his fingers inside her. . . . > > Corroborators: > > Lynda LaCasse, Reade’s neighbor in the mid-1990s. “I remember her saying, here was this person [Biden] that she was working for and she idolized him,” LaCasse told Business Insider. “And he kind of put her up against a wall. And he put his hand up her skirt and he put his fingers inside her. She felt like she was assaulted, and she really didn’t feel there was anything she could do.” . . . > > Lorraine Sanchez, who worked with Reade in the office of California state Sen. Jack O’Connell from 1994 to 1996. Reade said “she had been sexually harassed by her former boss while she was in DC,” . . . > > Collin Moulton, Reade’s brother. He originally told The Post that Reade had told him in 1993 that Biden had behaved inappropriately. . . > > Jeanette Altimus, Reade’s mother. Reade has told interviewers she confided in her mother at time of the alleged assault. Her mother died in 2016. But Reade had recalled that her mother had called CNN’s “Larry King Live” and anonymously described trouble her daughter had had with a senator. . . . > > Unnamed friends. Some people were quoted anonymously as supportive of Reade’s recollection and obviously may overlap. The Washington Post quoted “a friend, a former intern for another lawmaker,” as corroborating Reade’s account of their conversation. The New York Times reported that “a friend” said she learned of the alleged assault from Reade in 1993 and that a “second friend” recalled Reade “telling her in 2008 that Mr. Biden had touched her inappropriately and that she’d had a traumatic experience while working in his office.” The Associated Press also reported similar conversations with two friends of Reade’s. ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Kearsen1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen1)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/532 "2020-04-29T19:01:07Z")
This was you, correct iiandyiii? " … Hell, even politically speaking, it’s very good for Biden that this is coming out now – after he’s wrapped up the nomination, but early enough that it’s likely to blow over before the general election, especially with everyone focused on COVID. 477 " ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/533 "2020-04-29T19:11:29Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > From the article cited so she told everyone…everyone except for an attorney or a police officer. So…did she want Biden to be held accountable for what he’d done? Or not? Asking people to give a shit about any of this shit as if it happened yesterday, is asking the impossible. People need to get the message that the time to bring up these incidents is _when they happen_. And the person to tell is an attorney or a police officer. ---
**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 29, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/534 "2020-04-29T19:31:13Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > This was you, correct iiandyiii? > > " … Hell, even politically speaking, it’s very good for Biden that this is coming out now – after he’s wrapped up the nomination, but early enough that it’s likely to blow over before the general election, especially with everyone focused on COVID. 477 " Yep… so what? I was estimating political impacts, not expressing a preference. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/535 "2020-04-29T19:41:03Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > From the article cited That’s a little creative editing. I noticed, for instance, that you left out her brother originally saying it was just “touching” her shoulders, etc and then coming back days later to say “Oh yeah, and she was assaulted.” I mean, if my sister had told me she was sexually assaulted, I’d like to think I’d remember that minor detail. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/536 "2020-04-29T19:45:54Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > so she told everyone…everyone except for an attorney or a police officer. > > So…did she want Biden to be held accountable for what he’d done? Or not? > > Asking people to give a shit about any of this shit as if it happened yesterday, is asking the impossible. People need to get the message that the time to bring up these incidents is _when they happen_. And the person to tell is an attorney or a police officer. I don’t recall you saying anything like this about Kavanaugh. Just that, based on the hearings (not that Ms. Ford reported it contemporaneously, or to the police), [you believed the allegations, and that you were OK with dirty tricks against a Trump nominee](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21235111&postcount=4532). Funny how it works. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/537 "2020-04-29T19:47:14Z")
[From _The Daily Beast_](https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-have-womens-groups-gone-dead-silent-on-biden-assault-accusation?ref=home): > [@](#): > > Women’s groups and prominent feminist figures have remained almost universally silent over a former staffer’s accusation of sexual misconduct against former Vice President Joe Biden—including those individuals and groups who came to express regret for how the Democratic Party handled similar accusations made against President Bill Clinton in the 1990s. > … > The Daily Beast contacted 10 top national pro-women organizations for this story, including Emily’s List, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the National Organization for Women. Most organizations did not respond to a detailed request for comment about the allegation by Tara Reade, a former staff assistant in Biden’s Senate office who has accused the former vice president of forcibly penetrating her with his fingers in the early 1990s. Others replied and did not provide a statement. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/538 "2020-04-29T19:50:22Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@Shodan](#): > > > > I don’t recall you saying anything like this about Kavanaugh. Just that, based on the hearings (not that Ms. Ford reported it contemporaneously, or to the police), [you believed the allegations, and that you were OK with dirty tricks against a Trump nominee](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21235111&postcount=4532). Funny how it works. > > > > Regards, > > Shodan I’ve changed my mind about all of this since then. The Kavanaugh accusation failed to block his appointment to the court, and my conclusion from the whole thing is that dredging up old allegations of sexual assault is waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/539 "2020-04-29T20:06:00Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Asking people to give a shit about any of this shit as if it happened yesterday, is asking the impossible. People need to get the message that the time to bring up these incidents is _when they happen_. And the person to tell is an attorney or a police officer. In 2020 that’s certainly the case, but the 1990’s were different. Back then, it’s very likely that no one would listen or care, and that’s including the police. Very likely there would be a high chance of significant negative consequences to her with little chance of anything happening to him. It would be like a prisoner going up to a bunch of corrupt guards to say that he was being extorted. Nothing is going to happen and it’s going to end up a lot worse for the prisoner. That’s not the case now. It’s much more likely that accusations will get appropriate attention and investigation without negatively impacting the accuser. If in 2040 people are dredging up accusations from 2020, I’m not going to be too sympathetic. But I can totally understand someone from the 90’s not doing anything at the time. ---
**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 29, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393/540 "2020-04-29T20:06:52Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > [From _The Daily Beast_](https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-have-womens-groups-gone-dead-silent-on-biden-assault-accusation?ref=home): We have a long way to go. Some progress has been made, but not nearly enough. Man I wish Biden had lost and dropped out months ago. I still hope he drops out. Probably won’t, but I’ll still be hoping. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-staffer-accuses-joe-biden-of-sexual-assault/850393.md?page=28)