Two more women have come forward this week to say that former Vice President Joe Biden touched them, without their permission, in ways that made them uncomfortable — yet some people remain steadfast in their defense of the 76-year-old Democrat.
Two women, Caitlyn Caruso, who is 22, and D. J. Hill, 59, shared their experiences with The New York Times for a piece that was published on Monday.
Caruso claimed that Biden rested his hand on her thigh during an event about sexual assault, of all things, at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
Caruso was 19 at the time of the incident.
She said she squirmed in her seat to try to show her discomfort and that Biden also hugged her “just a little bit too long.”
The alleged interaction, she said, was uncomfortable for her partly because she had just talked about her own sexual assault — and she had expected the former vice president to be more cognizant of physical boundaries with others.
“It doesn’t even really cross your mind that such a person would dare perpetuate harm like that,” she told The Times. “These are supposed to be people you can trust.”
Related: Biden Is Accused by Yet Another Woman of Unwanted Touching
Hill, 59, said that in 2012, when she was taking a photograph with Biden, the then-vice president put his hand on her shoulder and moved it down her back — which made her “very uncomfortable.”
Both Lucy Flores, a former Nevada state lawmaker, and Amy Lappos, a former congressional aide to Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), have also accused Biden of unwanted touching.
A spokesperson on Sunday said Biden over the years has “offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And not once — never — did I believe I acted inappropriately,” said Biden. “If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday, during a breakfast event in Washington, D.C., urged the former vice president to be more careful going forward.
“I’ve known Joe Biden a long time. My grandchildren love Joe Biden,” she said. “He’s an affectionate person — to children, to senior citizens, to everyone, that’s just the way he is … But that’s just not the way — join the straight-arm club with me, if you will,” Pelosi added.
Related: Why ‘Joe Biden Being Joe Biden’ Doesn’t Work in the #MeToo Era
“Just pretend you have a cold and I have a cold,” she also said.
Interestingly, some in Hollywood have come to Biden’s immediate defense.
Actress Alyssa Milano basically told everyone to chill about the issue.
And some aren’t too happy with that.
So you had a positive interaction with Biden, thus he’s conducted himself professionally with all women? Wow. Congrats. You just threw the #metoo movement away into the trash. White feminism will side with the patriarchy every single time.
— uranianplutonian ♅♇ (@12thHousePluto) April 2, 2019
Alyssa Milano defending Joe Biden was just the additional 2019 I didn’t know I needed.
— A Girl Has No Name (@avelinewrites) April 3, 2019
Just watch the right videos. Check out "Creepy Joe Biden Moments". I liked him as a VP. IMO he has crossed THAT line too many times. Seeing kids recoil or shove him away and how he gave Mrs. Carter a kiss was convincing. Sorry..Joe has to go.
— Surreal to you (@jonnyindy67) April 3, 2019
#MeToo activist Alyssa Milano stands behind Joe Biden, saying the former vice president is "exactly the leadership we need." https://t.co/kg1R57oPwo pic.twitter.com/lgDkWu5m40
— ABC News (@ABC) April 2, 2019
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