Schumer on Reade allegation: Biden’s explanation is ‘sufficient’

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday said that he believes that former Vice President Joe Biden’s explanation of a sexual assault allegation from a former staffer is “sufficient.”

“I’ve heard Joe Biden’s explanation. I think it’s sufficient. I think he will be a great candidate. I think he will be a great President and I think he’ll help us take back the Senate,” Schumer told reporters during a press conference. 

Schumer’s remarks appear to be the first time he’s weighed in on the allegation from Tara Reade, who has alleged that Biden sexually assaulted her when she worked in his Senate office in 1993. 

Sen. Chuck Schumer: “I’ve heard Joe Biden’s explanation. I think it’s sufficient. I think he will be a great candidate. I think he will be a great President and I think he’ll help us take back the Senate.” pic.twitter.com/zVmXUNuqcg

— The Hill (@thehill) May 12, 2020

Reade’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said in a statement to The Hill, however, that Schumer’s comment “is absolutely nonsensical as Biden hasn’t provided any explanation.” 

“Is Schumer simply accepting Biden’s blanket denial?” Wigdor added. “Seems like a complete double standard.”

Senate Democrats have largely lined up behind Biden, drawing accusations of hypocrisy from Republicans over their handling of the allegation against Biden versus the allegations against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who denied wrongdoing.

Some Democrats have called for an independent investigation but most say they believe Biden’s denial of the allegation. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told reporters earlier this month that she thought Biden’s response was “convincing” and that she supported him.

Biden directly addressed the allegation against him in a campaign statement and during an MSNBC’s interview earlier this month.

“They aren’t true,” Biden said of the allegation at the time. “This never happened.”  

Reade has said that she filed a complaint detailing the allegations of harassment against Biden with the Senate at the time. She told The Associated Press that she didn’t explicitly accuse him of sexual assault or harassment because she was “too scared to write about the sexual assault.” 

Biden has called on the National Archives and the secretary of the Senate to search and release any records they might have, but both have said they do not have the authority to release those documents. 

Biden, however, has declined to make his Senate records, which are being held at the University of Delaware, available for review. The university has said they won’t be made publicly available until two years after Biden retires from public life.

–This report was updated on May 13 at 8:54 a.m.