Aides blame ‘internet trolls’ for Biden ‘unwanted touching’ claims
● Second woman calls behaviour of vice-president inappropriate
Aides to Joe Biden have blasted “right-wing trolls” from “the dark recesses of the internet” for claims which have surfaced about “unwanted touching” of women by the former vice-president.
The comments came in a statement from Biden spokesman Bill Russo, who said the “trolls” were for conflating images of mr bid en embracing acquaintances, colleagues and friends in his official capacity during swearing-in ceremonies with uninvited touching.
The move came as a second woman said Mr Biden had acted inappropriately, touching her face with both hands and rubbing noses with her in 2009.
The allegation by Amy Lappos, a former aide to Democratic Representative Jim Hines of Connecticut, followed a magazine essay by former Nevada politician Lucy Flores, who wrote that Mr Biden kissed her on the back of the head in 2014.
The developments underscored the challenge facing Mr Biden should he decide to seek the White House. The allegations could leave Mr Biden, 76, long known for his affectionate mannerisms, appearing out of touch with the party as the Democratic presidential primary season begins.
Ms Lappos said that she and other Hines aides were helping out at a fundraiser in a private home in Hartford, Connecticut, in October 2009 when Mr Biden entered the kitchen to thank the group for pitching in.
“After he finished speaking, he stopped to talk to us about how important a congressional staff is, which I thought was awesome,” Ms Lappos said.
She said she was stunned as Mr Biden moved toward her.
“He wrapped both his hands around my face and pulled me in,” said Ms Lappos, 43.
“I thought, ‘Oh, God, he’s going to kiss me’. Instead, he rubbed noses with me.” Mr Biden said nothing, she said, then moved off.
She said the experience left her feeling “weird and uncomfortable” and was “absolutely disrespectful of my personal boundaries”.
The Hartford Courant newspaper first reported Ms Lappos’ assertion.
Mr Russo did not directly respond to Ms Lappos, instead referring to a Sunday statement in which Mr Biden said he does not believe he has acted inappropriately during his long public life.
The former vice-president said in that statement: “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.”
Mr Biden has not made a final decision on whether to run for the White House.
But aides said there were no signs that his team was slowing its preparations for a campaign.
Asked about the accusations against Mr Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: “I don’t think that this disqualifies him from running for president, not at all.”
She declined to elaborate. Mr Biden’s potential Democratic rivals have not rushed to back him up.
Over the weekend, presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand came closest to calling out the former vice-president.
Ms Warren said Mr Biden “needs to give an answer” about what occurred, while Ms Gillibrand said: “If vicepresident Biden becomes a candidate, this is a topic he’ll have to engage on further.”
Ultraviolet, a women’s advocacy group, tweeted: “Joe Biden cannot paint himself as a champion of women and then refuse to listen and learn from a woman who says his actions demeaned her.
“Good intentions don’t matter if the actions are inappropriate. Do better, Joe.”