Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential bid, said Thursday that an allegation of sexual assault against the former VP is “relevant.”
During an interview on “CBS This Morning,” Sanders was asked about his endorsement of Biden when the conversation shifted toward a former Senate staffer who has accused the former vice president of sexually assaulting her in 1993.
“One of your most important allies, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, said recently that she thinks it’s legitimate and relevant to talk about sexual assault allegations against Joe Biden. Do you agree?” CBS anchor Tony Dokoupil asked Sanders.
“I think it’s relevant to talk about anything. And I think any woman who feels that she was assaulted has every right in the world to stand up and make her claims,” the senator responded.
Dokoupil then attempted to ask a follow-up question, but was cut off by Sanders.
Ilhan Omar calls Trump ‘creep’ as president revives ‘fake name,’ marriage allegations
Meghan Markle’s Statement Triggers Internal Police Investigation Amid ‘Disturbing Allegations’ Against Her Father
Watch: Kamala Harris Turns Back the Clock to 2024, Confuses Crowd with Jumbled Motivational Quote That She Has to Repeat
‘Can’t trust Amy Acton’: Viral ad distracts from what’s really at stake in critical race, GOP strategist says
Treasury traces SPLC to debanking of Christians after group dismissed it as conspiracy
Mass shooting at Jordanian church kills at least seven and wounds dozens
Polish Left pushing abortion liberalization through parliament despite looming presidential veto
LeBron James Brushes Off Trump Criticizing His Disrespectful National Anthem Antics
Two Former Top FBI Officials Arrested in Connection with Hunter Biden Investigation
Former FBI officials charged with lying to Congress about Hunter Biden investigations
Chicago’s 12-language ballots make elections ‘harder to monitor,’ Illinois GOP chair warns
Sheriff says evidence ‘leaning one way’ in shooting deaths of disabled toddler and grandparents: report
Ex-FBI officials arrested in Hunter Biden laptop probe as testimony comes under scrutiny
Israel shuts down West Bank after two soliders shot dead by Palestinian gunmen
Ilhan Omar hit with expulsion threat as GOP lawmaker vows to boot her from Congress over DOJ probe
“I think that she has the right to make her claims and get a public hearing, and the public will make their own conclusions about it,” Sanders said.
Bernie Sanders has made his first public statement about Tara Reade and says he wants a public hearing.
Will you listen @JoeBiden?#TimesUpBiden #IBelieveTaraReade #InvestigateJoepic.twitter.com/7BrbQyBeIW
— #BernThePrimary🌹🌅✡️ (@DavidAgStone) April 16, 2020
“I just don’t know enough about it to comment further,” he added.
Sanders suspended his campaign on April 8. The move was a result of Biden’s stunning run of success over Sanders in states across the country, which began on Super Tuesday last month. Sanders endorsed Biden’s presidential bid Monday during a livestreamed conversation with the former vice president.
Ilhan Omar calls Trump ‘creep’ as president revives ‘fake name,’ marriage allegations
Meghan Markle’s Statement Triggers Internal Police Investigation Amid ‘Disturbing Allegations’ Against Her Father
Watch: Kamala Harris Turns Back the Clock to 2024, Confuses Crowd with Jumbled Motivational Quote That She Has to Repeat
‘Can’t trust Amy Acton’: Viral ad distracts from what’s really at stake in critical race, GOP strategist says
Treasury traces SPLC to debanking of Christians after group dismissed it as conspiracy
Mass shooting at Jordanian church kills at least seven and wounds dozens
Polish Left pushing abortion liberalization through parliament despite looming presidential veto
LeBron James Brushes Off Trump Criticizing His Disrespectful National Anthem Antics
Two Former Top FBI Officials Arrested in Connection with Hunter Biden Investigation
Former FBI officials charged with lying to Congress about Hunter Biden investigations
Chicago’s 12-language ballots make elections ‘harder to monitor,’ Illinois GOP chair warns
Sheriff says evidence ‘leaning one way’ in shooting deaths of disabled toddler and grandparents: report
Ex-FBI officials arrested in Hunter Biden laptop probe as testimony comes under scrutiny
Israel shuts down West Bank after two soliders shot dead by Palestinian gunmen
Ilhan Omar hit with expulsion threat as GOP lawmaker vows to boot her from Congress over DOJ probe
“Today I am asking all Americans — I’m asking every Democrat, I’m asking every independent, I’m asking a lot of Republicans — to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy, which I endorse,” Sanders said.
#BREAKING: Sen. Bernie Sanders endorses Joe Biden: "Today I am asking all Americans — I'm asking every Democrat, I'm asking every independent, I'm asking a lot of Republicans – to come together in this campaign to support your candidacy which I endorse." pic.twitter.com/Ty1r9ligJx
— The Hill (@thehill) April 13, 2020
While Biden has consolidated support among Democrats and is now the party’s presumptive presidential nominee, the sexual assault allegation against him is hanging over the campaign.
Tara Reade, a staffer for Biden when he was in the Senate, has accused him of sexually assaulting her while the two were alone in 1993.
Reade, who worked for Biden from 1992 to 1993, said during a recent podcast interview that Biden had kissed, groped and penetrated her with his fingers during the alleged unwanted sexual advance.
Ilhan Omar calls Trump ‘creep’ as president revives ‘fake name,’ marriage allegations
Meghan Markle’s Statement Triggers Internal Police Investigation Amid ‘Disturbing Allegations’ Against Her Father
Watch: Kamala Harris Turns Back the Clock to 2024, Confuses Crowd with Jumbled Motivational Quote That She Has to Repeat
‘Can’t trust Amy Acton’: Viral ad distracts from what’s really at stake in critical race, GOP strategist says
Treasury traces SPLC to debanking of Christians after group dismissed it as conspiracy
Mass shooting at Jordanian church kills at least seven and wounds dozens
Polish Left pushing abortion liberalization through parliament despite looming presidential veto
LeBron James Brushes Off Trump Criticizing His Disrespectful National Anthem Antics
Two Former Top FBI Officials Arrested in Connection with Hunter Biden Investigation
Former FBI officials charged with lying to Congress about Hunter Biden investigations
Chicago’s 12-language ballots make elections ‘harder to monitor,’ Illinois GOP chair warns
Sheriff says evidence ‘leaning one way’ in shooting deaths of disabled toddler and grandparents: report
Ex-FBI officials arrested in Hunter Biden laptop probe as testimony comes under scrutiny
Israel shuts down West Bank after two soliders shot dead by Palestinian gunmen
Ilhan Omar hit with expulsion threat as GOP lawmaker vows to boot her from Congress over DOJ probe
The woman filed a criminal complaint with the Washington Metropolitan Police Department last week, Business Insider reported.
Reade’s accusation is especially complicated for Democrats, as Biden and other high-level party members have previously said there is a need to treat all accusations of sexual impropriety with credibility in the era of the #MeToo movement.
Last month, Biden’s campaign asked the reporters to “rigorously vet” Reade.
“Women have a right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims,” Biden campaign manager and communications director Kate Bedingfield said.
“We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false,” she added.
Story cited here.
