Biden camp denies sexual assault claim: 'These accusations are false'

Joseph R. Biden’s presidential campaign on Friday denied a graphic sexual assault allegation made by former Senate staffer Tara Reade.

“Women have the right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims,” Kate Bedingfield, the deputy campaign manager and communications director, said in a statement. “We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false.”

Last year, Ms. Reade was one of several women who accused Mr. Biden of unwanted touching, saying he used to “put his hand on my shoulder and run his finger up my neck” when she worked in his Senate office in the early ‘90s.

During a podcast interview with Katie Halper Wednesday, Ms. Reade revealed there’s much more to her story. She accused Mr. Biden of pinning her against a wall and penetrating her with his fingers without her consent in his Senate office in 1993.

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