Second woman accuses Biden of unwanted touching
Democrat presidential nominee hopeful under pressure over claims of ‘inappropriate behaviour’
JOE BIDEN is facing the first major crisis of an as-yet-unannounced presidential bid after a second woman accused him of unwanted touching and Democrats debated if the claims should disqualify him. The former US vicepresident was said to have pulled a woman’s head towards him to “rub noses” at a political event – an allegation that emerged just days after a similar claim became public.
Amy Lappos, the former congressional aide who made the accusation, said the behaviour was not “sexual” but it was inappropriate and called on Mr Biden not to seek the White House.
Mr Biden comfortably tops polls for who should win the Democratic Party’s 2020 presidential nomination to take on Donald Trump. But unlike more than a dozen rival candidates, Mr Biden has waited before jumping into the ring – widely expected within weeks.
Nancy Pelosi, the most senior Democrat in the House of Representatives, yesterday said the claims should not “disqualify” Mr Biden from running for office but urged him to consider his behaviour in the future.
“I’ve known Joe Biden a long time. My grandchildren love Joe. I mean he’s an affectionate person, to children, to senior citizens, to everyone. That’s just the way he is,” Ms Pelosi said. But she added: “He has to understand that people’s space is important to them. And what’s important is how they receive it, not necessarily how you intended it.”
Democratic 2020 candidates said they believed the women but stopped short of calling him not to launch a bid.
Ms Lappos’s account emerged on Monday online and she later told Connecticut newspaper The Hartford Courant how at a 2009 political fundraiser in Greenwich, Mr Biden “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. There’s absolutely a line of decency. There’s a line of respect. Crossing that line is not grandfatherly. It’s sexism or misogyny.”
Earlier, Lucy Flores said that Mr Biden had put his hands on her shoulders, smelt her hair and kissed the back of her head at a political event in 2014.
“Yes, of course, I want him to change his behaviour. And I want him to acknowledge it was wrong,” Ms Flores said in an interview. Mr Biden denied acting inappropriately, saying: “I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions 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.
“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.”