US denies Biden accuser Tara Reade’s life was in danger before she went to Russia

The White House strongly denied on Wednesday that the US government posed any threat to a former Senate staffer who claimed President Joe Biden sexually assaulted her in a Senate office building corridor in the 1990s. .

The former employee, Tara Reade, announced Tuesday that she has moved to Russia, where she said she felt “surrounded by safety and security” during an interview with the state-owned Sputnik news website.

Asked about her claims in light of her announcement that she has moved to Russia and is seeking citizenship there, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby replied: “We are at a loss to comment on the views of a potential Russian citizen.” would be reluctant.”

Asked whether the White House believes his accusations against Mr Biden may be motivated by an affinity for Russia, Mr Kirby said he “can’t get inside his head and his motivations”. and can speak for intentions”.

But he specifically addressed Ms Reade’s claim that she moved to Russia because the US government feared a risk to her life, calling those allegations “absolutely false” and “baseless”.

“There’s nothing in it,” he said.

Ms Reade, who worked for Mr Biden during a brief period in 1993, accused the then-former vice president of touching her inappropriately in 2019, when Mr Biden was considering entering the 2020 presidential election. In mid-2020, as he was poised to secure the Democratic Party’s nomination for president, she claimed he sexually assaulted her in a heavily trafficked hallway at the Russell Senate Office Building. Mr. Biden has vehemently denied the allegations.

The former Senate staffer’s credibility took a hit after news outlets began scrutinizing his background after he leveled allegations of assault against Mr. Biden. The university she attended, Antioch University, disputed her claim to have earned a bachelor’s degree while studying there, and former colleagues came forward to recall instances in which they felt she had been dishonest in her dealings with them. or cheaters.

Douglas Vigdor, a well-known attorney, terminated an attorney-client relationship with her in May 2020 after it was discovered that she had not earned a degree from Antioch as she had publicly claimed.