A former neighbor of a woman who is accusing Joe Biden of sexual assault says the woman, Tara Reade, confided in her about the alleged assault.
According to CNN, Lynda LaCasse says in 1995 or 1996, she was smoking a cigarette on her front stoop and talking with Reade about a custody battle for her children. LaCasse was crying when Reade started crying too.
"She started talking about Joe Biden,” LaCasse said. “And I didn't really know much about Joe Biden.”
LaCasse said that Reade told her that when she was working in Washington years before, Biden "had pushed her up against a wall and he put his hand up her skirt and he put his fingers inside of her, and she was dealing with the aftermath of that."
The Biden campaign is denying Reade’s allegation.
"Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women,” a statement from Biden’s team said. “He authored and fought for the passage and reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act. He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard – and heard respectfully.
“Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press. What is clear about this claim: it is untrue. This absolutely did not happen."
Reade came forward in March with the allegation, saying Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 when she worked as an aid in his Senate office.
LaCasse said she told Reade to file a police report about the incident, but she isn’t sure if she referred Reade to a women’s shelter.
"But remembering somebody putting their hands up your skirt – that's something you don't forget," LaCasse said.
Reade and LaCasse lost touch after the mid-1990s. They reconnected when Reade’s mother died a few years ago.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Win McNamee/Staff
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
