Two women have come forward with stories of being inappropriately touched by Joe Biden in recent years.
The first, former Nevada state legislator Lucy Flores (D), described an encounter from 2014 in an essay in New York Magazine.
“I felt two hands on my shoulders. I froze. ‘Why is the vice-president of the United States touching me?’” Flores said in her essay.
She goes on to describe the then vice president taking a sniff of her hair before going in to kiss the back of her head.
“What in the actual f**k? Why is the vice-president of the United States smelling my hair?” she wrote. “He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldn’t process what was happening.”
This is such a nice compilation of normal human interaction with people who I have had the privilege of getting to know and work with. Thank you for putting this together for me! pic.twitter.com/EZ4aXMO0zn
— Lucy Flores (@LucyFlores) April 2, 2019
Biden has been called out for his just over-the-line touching before. But with the burgeoning of the #MeToo movement, what might have been chalked up to eccentricity or even “warmth” could now potentially cost him his shot at the White House.
Though Biden has not yet officially announced his intention to run for president in the 2020 election, there has been widespread speculation that he is preparing to do so.
"In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And not once – never – did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention,” Biden said in a statement.
In a tweet a few days later he seemed to shift, accepting more responsibility and pledging to correct his behavior in the future
Social norms are changing. I understand that, and I’ve heard what these women are saying. Politics to me has always been about making connections, but I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future. That’s my responsibility and I will meet it. pic.twitter.com/Ya2mf5ODts
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 3, 2019
Additionally, a college student and sexual assault survivor, Caitlyn Caruso, came forward to the New York Times and said that Biden rested his hand on her thigh and hugged her “just a bit too long” at an event to end sexual assault on college campuses.
“It doesn’t even really cross your mind that such a person would dare perpetuate harm like that,” she said. “These are supposed to be people you can trust.”
Sen. Kamala Harris, who has already announced her bid to run for president in 2020, praised the women for coming forward.
Sen. Kamala Harris on Joe Biden accusers: "I believe them and I respect them being able to tell their story and having the courage to do it." https://t.co/wJJXCADAHs
pic.twitter.com/9FJ05g2t21— The Hill (@thehill) April 3, 2019
Whether this will tank Biden’s shot at the presidency remains to be seen.
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