Tara Reade says she felt 'marginalized', 'discounted' by Democrats who defended Biden
Tara Reade, a former Senate aide who has accused former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE of sexual assault, said she felt “discounted” and “smeared” by the responses to her allegations from female Democratic politicians she said she once admired.
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“I just— I’m stunned. …They didn’t just say, ‘Oh, we’re standing with Joe Biden until we hear more.’ They just discounted me. They marginalized me. They said they didn’t believe me. I can’t tell you,” Reade recounted to Buzzfeed News in a story published Thursday.
Reade came forward last month with allegations that Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 while she was an aide for the then-Delaware senator.
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Her claim began to pick up traction when a former neighbor of Reade’s came forward to say that former aide told her about the allegation in the mid-1990s, marking the first time the accusation was corroborated on the record.
Former Secretary of State Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE on Tuesday endorsed Biden for president via livestream saying, “I am thrilled to be part of your campaign — to not only endorse you but to help highlight a lot of the issues that are at stake in this presidential election.”
Two other powerful Democratic women, Sen. Kirsten GillibrandKirsten GillibrandWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Warren, Pressley introduce bill to make it a crime for police officers to deny medical care to people in custody Senate Dems press DOJ over coronavirus safety precautions in juvenile detention centers MORE (D-N.Y.) and Stacey Abrams — a former gubernatorial candidate in Georgia and potential running mate for Biden — have backed the former vice president’s presidential bid.
Abrams has defended Biden with regard to the allegations, telling CNN, “I know Joe Biden, and I think he’s telling the truth and this did not happen,” she said.
Gillibrand has previously said that she stands by the candidate.
Reade, who said she considers herself a “lifelong Democrat” said she felt “marginalized,” “smeared” and “discounted” by them.
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“I cried for a while because they’re important in my life. They’ve been figures that I looked up to,” she said.
The Biden campaign has denied the allegations.
Biden has yet to address the allegation himself, but is scheduled to appear on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Friday where he is expected to respond to the recent media coverage.
This report has been updated at 9:19 p.m.
