In response to the sexual assault allegations made by Tara Reade, US presidential candidate Joe Biden has finally addressed the issue.
According to Reade, Biden allegedly used his finger to penetrate her and forcefully kissed her when she went to deliver a package to him in 1993 while working as a staffer in the US Senate.
Until now, Biden had not directly responded to the allegations, attracting criticism from Republicans and Bernie Sanders supporters who want him removed as the Democratic party challenger.
In light of mounting pressure from his campaign and the media, Biden has now addressed the allegations, denying the incident ever happened but emphasizing the importance of hearing women’s voices and experiences.
Below is the full statement from Joe Biden:
“April was Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Every year, at this time, we talk about awareness, prevention, and the importance of women feeling they can step forward, say something, and be heard. That belief – that women should be heard – was the underpinning of a law I wrote over 25 years ago. To this day, I am most proud of the Violence Against Women Act. So, each April we are reminded not only of how far we have come in dealing with sexual assault in this country – but how far we still have to go.
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