New Evidence Against Joe Biden's Sexual Assault Allegations Are Brought to Light

New evidence emerges on a decades-old sexual assault allegation against former VP Joe Biden. 

1993’s Sexual Assault Case 

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s campaign has repeatedly denied the charges filed by former Biden congressional staffer Tara Reade. The accusation comes from Reade’s days of being a staffer for the former VP in spring or summer of 1993. Reade told podcaster Katie Halper in March that Biden had cornered her in a private hallway, then proceeding to kiss her, reach under her skirt and touch her. 

Biden’s communications director, Kate Bedingfield, issued a statement to the New York Times earlier this month, denying the allegations and bringing back up Biden’s impact on laws “around violence against women,” saying he has been fighting for women’s rights for years. 

21 former staffers were contacted by The Associated Press in hopes of getting a confirmation of the case, although none remember any complaints filed by Reade. The woman said that she had filed a complaint with a Senate personnel office, which should be sitting with the rest of Biden’s papers at the University of Delaware, although they “will remain closed to the public until two years after Mr. Biden retires from public life,” the university said. 

Monday, however, saw Business Insider publishing a story from investigative reporter Rich McHugh that featured interviews with two women, who confirmed Reade’s mid-’90s story. The Intercept also published an August 11, 1993 call last week. The call was made to Larry King’s CNN show, from Reade’s mother – Jeanette Altimus. 

“I’m wondering what a staffer would do besides go to the press in Washington?” Altimus said, going on to talk about her daughter’s “problems” after working for a “prominent senator,” and failing to go the press out of respect. 

The call falls in line with Reade saying she told her mother about the alleged assault around the same time, as well as Congressional records listing the former staffer’s last month of employment as August 1993.