Joe Biden Offered ‘Expressions Of Affection’ But Denies Inappropriate Behavior – NPR

Former Vice President Joe Biden, pictured on March 26, said he does not believe he acted inappropriately with Lucy Flores at a campaign event in 2014.

Frank Franklin II/AP

hide caption

toggle caption

Frank Franklin II/AP

Former Vice President Joe Biden, pictured on March 26, said he does not believe he acted inappropriately with Lucy Flores at a campaign event in 2014.

Frank Franklin II/AP

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday responded to allegations that he acted inappropriately when he kissed the back of a former Nevada Democratic assemblywoman’s head at a campaign event in 2014, saying his behavior has been affectionate but never unseemly.

“In 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,” Biden said in a statement released by his spokesman on Twitter.

Biden’s remarks come two days after Lucy Flores, who was running for lieutenant governor at the time of the alleged incident, published an essay about the encounter in New York magazine, and hours before she was set to make several interview appearances on Sunday.

“I may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised at what I hear,” Biden said. “But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will.”

The 76-year-old, who’s close to making a decision about running for president, added that he will continue working as an advocate for women’s rights.

“I will fight to build on the work I’ve done in my career to end violence against women and ensure women are treated with the equality they deserve,” Biden said.

“I will continue to surround myself with trusted women advisers who challenge me to see different perspectives than my own. And I will continue to speak out on these vitally-important issues where there is much more progress to be made and crucial fights that must be waged and won.”

The statement is the first direct response from Biden to the accusations. Earlier statements came from Russo, who previously said Biden had no memory of the alleged kiss and was unaware that he had made Flores feel uncomfortable.

The organizer of the 2014 event where Flores and Biden met disputed Flores’ account. Henry Munoz, who leads the Latino Victory Project said, “at no time were these two leaders alone together and I, and the organization I cofounded and those in attendance, do not believe that circumstances support allegations that such an event took place.”

Flores wrote she was “grateful and flattered” when she learned Biden would help boost voter turnout on her behalf at a campaign rally in Las Vegas in 2014. But her enthusiasm morphed into mortification, when moments before going on stage, he walked up behind her, put his hands on her shoulders, took a deep whiff of her hair and planted a kiss her on the back of her head.

“He was there to promote me as the right person for the lieutenant governor job. Instead, he made me feel uneasy, gross, and confused,” she said.