A number of prominent Democrats have stepped forward to defend Joe Biden’s possible bid for the US presidency as a second woman accuses him of unwanted touching.
Over the weekend, Biden was accused by former Nevada legislator Lucy Flores of kissing and touching her inappropriately during an official event. Biden, who is widely expected to soon announce a run for the presidency, did not deny the event happened, but said in a statement that he believed his intent had been misconstrued.
Biden said that throughout his career he had often offered “handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort.”
Now, a second woman has come forward. Connecticut woman Amy Lappos told a local newspaper, the Hartford Courant, that Biden had touched her inappropriately during an event in 2009.
“It wasn’t sexual, but he did grab me by the head,” Lappos told the newspaper.
“He put his hand around my neck and pulled me in to rub noses with me. When he was pulling me in, I thought he was going to kiss me on the mouth.”
A Biden spokesperson referred CNN to the former vice president’s statement on the Flores allegation when the news organisation sought comment.
Though Biden has not formally announced a run for president, he is expected to do so and he polls favourably against other Democratic challengers – like Vermont senator Bernie Sanders and former California attorney general Kamala Harris. Possibly for this reason, some Democrats and progressives have moved to condemn Biden’s alleged actions while also leaving open the possibility he can still run for president.
Speaking to reporters, Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said she does not believe the two allegations alone are disqualifying.
Pelosi: Accusations against Biden should “not at all” disqualify him from 2020 run https://t.co/sGkg4n9XBQ pic.twitter.com/by98Wx2HuD
— The Hill (@thehill) April 1, 2019
“No. No, I do not,” Pelosi said. “I don’t think that this disqualifies him from being president. Not at all.”
New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who has also announced a run for the presidency in 2020, said she believed Flores but stopped short of saying the allegation should disqualify Biden:
Lucy Flores felt demeaned and that’s never OK. And if Vice President Biden decides to run for president this is something he’s going to have to address directly with the American people.
Hawaii senator Mazie Hirono said Biden needed to be more aware of how his actions affect others, while also saying the allegations against Donald Trump are worse:
The focus isn’t on what his intentions were, it is how his behavior is experienced and one should not invade personal space. He needs to be a lot more aware of that. I would say with Trump it’s many, many degrees of worseness if there is such a word.
Others were more outright in defending Biden. California senator Dianne Feinstein described the former vice president’s actions as “hardly sexy” and that physical affection has long been part of his personality. “It’s a new thing that people have been affronted by it. Over 25 years I’ve never seen that before.”
It’s likely that this issue isn’t going to go away anytime soon – and it will no doubt affect whether or not Biden ultimately runs for the presidency.
