Washington – After a Connecticut woman accused former Vice President Joe Biden of touching her inappropriately, his office stepped up its defense of the Democrat who is weighing a run for the White House.
Biden spokesman Bill Russo released supportive comments from more than 20 women, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., former national security adviser Susan Rice, actress Alyssa Milano, and Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Sen. John McCain, who called Biden a “good, decent man.”
Other women on the list work or once worked for Biden.
“I respect every woman who chooses to share her uncomfortable (and worse) experiences with men,” Rice was quoted as saying. “Their perspectives must be heard and taken seriously. I have worked closely with @JoeBiden for many years. In my experience, he is warm and affectionate with women (and men). But never have I found his actions inappropriate or uncomfortable. I have always appreciated his kindness and warmth.”
The controversy over Biden’s behavior towards women ratcheted up after Amy Lappos, who once worked for Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, posted on social media about Biden touching her inappropriately during a fundraiser in 2009.
Using the pseudonym “Alice Paul,” Lappos made her allegation during a Facebook debate over accusations by Nevada Democratic politician Lucy Flores, who said Biden once smelled her hair and kissed her on the back of the head.
“Biden did something similar to me at a fundraiser in Greenwich when I was a Congressional Aide,” Lappos wrote in a post last weekend on the Connecticut Women in Politics Facebook page.
Lappos said she was “really disappointed to see this post ask ‘thoughts’ as if the grossness of men invading women’s boundaries to sniff and touch is debatable. And shame on some of the women here excusing this as boys being boys or it’s not as bad as Trump.”
“I can speak from experience when I say it’s an incredibly uncomfortable situation and not at all acceptable. We need to hold our men to the same standards we hold all men,” Lappos added.
Biden has not addressed Lappos’ allegations, which were first reported Monday in the Hartford Courant. But he said that although he did not recall the alleged incident with Flores, it’s important for women like Flores to be heard.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also came to Biden’s defense Tuesday, telling Politico the allegations against Joe Biden of unwelcome contact are not disqualifying for a 2020 run, but that the former vice president should be more aware of others’ personal space.
“He has to understand in the world that we’re in now that people’s space is important to them, and what’s important is how they receive it and not necessarily how you intended it,” Pelosi said.
Connecticut’s lawmakers have been silent on the issue.
Himes spokesman Patrick Malone said late Monday “we are finding out about this along with everyone else today, so don’t have a comment right now.”
Tough way to end a political career – defending your reputation. Helluva legacy.
For all these incidents, I think Biden is a decent guy and just about the only moderate on the Democrat side. I can’t tell whether this hit job is coming from the right or the “progressive” left. Its probably both.