Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that she believes presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s denial of a 1993 sexual assault allegation.
“We owe it to every woman who has a story to listen to that story and then vet that story," said Whitmer, a survivor of a sexual assault herself.
“I don’t believe that it’s consistent with the Joe Biden that I know and I do believe Joe and I support Joe Biden.”
Tara Reade alleges that Biden pushed her against a wall and sexually assaulted her in 1993 while she was working in his Senate office.
Whitmer, a Democrat who is often mentioned as a top contender to be Biden’s running mate in the presidential election, said she's read a lot about the allegation.
“I know Joe Biden, and I have watched his defense. And there’s not a pattern that goes into this. For these reasons, I am very comfortable that Joe Biden is who he says he is,” he said.
Whitmer added that “just because you’re a survivor doesn’t mean that every claim is equal. It means we give them the ability to make their case, and the other side as well, and then to make a judgment that is informed.”
Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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