Former presidential contender Rep. Eric Swalwell said people should believe the sexual assault claim against former Vice President Joe Biden.
On Friday, Fox News anchor Ed Henry asked Swalwell why many Democrats are no longer adhering to the widely popularized mantra “believe women” during the #MeToo movement.
“Joe Biden, in 2018, said about Brett Kavanaugh, ‘Believe women.’ So, why should we not believe this woman?” Henry asked.
“We should believe this woman. And then we should also look to other facts that may exist,” Swalwell said. “The vice president has a story to tell as well,” the member of Congress also said, saying he would not question Tara Reade‘s motivations behind voicing her story during an election year.
The California Democrat also agreed that those who have said Reade told them about the alleged assault at the time, including her brother and her neighbor, are significant elements that should “mean something.”
“It should mean something. I’m not discounting that at all,” Swalwell said.
Biden was recently accused of sexual assault by Reade, who was his Senate aide from 1992 to 1993. According to Reade, Biden ran his hand underneath her skirt and penetrated her with his fingers at the time. Biden has denied the claim.
