UPDATE (5/17/20) on Reade’s allegation of sexual assault against Biden, considering stories, collaborations, motives, and patterns.
NB: if you ONLY want to hear good or bad things about Reade or Biden, this isn't the THREAD for you!
NB: if you ONLY want to hear good or bad things about Reade or Biden, this isn't the THREAD for you!
This is a LONG thread (unrolled versions at the end).
Claims and corroboration considered below.
Credibility, motive, bias, patterns, and making a judgment are on a separate thread:
Claims and corroboration considered below.
Credibility, motive, bias, patterns, and making a judgment are on a separate thread:
Whatever your belief on the matter, you should listen to Ms. Reade’s claim of sexual assault that allegedly occurred in 1993. If you are unwilling, you're not giving her claim fair consideration, just like those who refuse to test her credibility.
soundcloud.com/katie-halper/j…
soundcloud.com/katie-halper/j…
Arriving in DC
In 2009, said she arrived in DC via plane; in 2019 said she drove. In 2020 interview with Sanders supporter Krystal Ball, said she made two trips. Could be that's what happened, that she just misremembered, or conflated the two memories.
In 2009, said she arrived in DC via plane; in 2019 said she drove. In 2020 interview with Sanders supporter Krystal Ball, said she made two trips. Could be that's what happened, that she just misremembered, or conflated the two memories.
2009 claim from Medium article, which she has since deleted.
This and other deleted Reade articles available here:
archive.is/OeD6Z
archive.is/Vi7Hf
archive.is/UFB1e
This and other deleted Reade articles available here:
archive.is/OeD6Z
archive.is/Vi7Hf
archive.is/UFB1e
2019 claim from Medium article in which she first claimed harassment by Biden: medium.com/@AlexandraTara…
Krystal Ball interview:
Krystal Ball interview:
Note: if the alleged assault occurred, trauma could cause memory issues, leading to fragmented, non-linear, and/or incomplete recollections like these (link). But it does not give "carte blanche" on all such issues, let alone contradictory accounts and/or possible falsehoods.
More on assault-induced trauma and memory here: time.com/3625414/rape-t…
First public claim of unwelcome touching in 2019 in CA paper, The Nevada Union, in 2019 ("Union 1"). Says Biden touched her neck. Made her uncomfortable, but didn’t feel sexualized, but like a pretty lamp. In 2019 Medium article, said story "not a story about sexual misconduct."
Union 1: theunion.com/news/nevada-co…
Also approached Time’s Up for assistance. They referred her to several lawyers, but all declined. Those who spoke to press confirm Reade’s statement to Salon she wasn’t suing Biden for harassment or assault, but to stop accusations of being Russian agent.
Salon: salon.com/2020/03/31/a-w…
Time’s Up didn’t offer to pay for her legal counsel, noting it could harm their non-profit status. Some Sanders supporters falsely claimed they were protecting Biden because campaign staffer Anita Dunn's connection to them. Again, Salon debunks:
First public claim of sexual assault in Halper interview (3/24/20), saying it occurred in a semi-private area in basement of Senate. This contradicts 2019 statement to AP she “wasn’t scared of him, that he was going to take me in a room or anything. It wasn’t that kind of vibe.”
Consciousness of contradiction: the same day Halper interview published, Medium story changed in several ways, most notably “not a story about sexual misconduct” changed to “not *only* a story about sexual misconduct.” Reade is only person who can make these changes.
Full report on changes available here: romansresearch.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/tar…
"Gym bag" claim problematic: offices on 2nd fl, gym 1st, basement highly trafficked when Senate in session, especially w/congress members, staff, and press coming and going from Congress's rail stop. In '93, only semi-private area shared wall w/Capitol Police station.
Thread on this by @AndrewFeinberg:
Reade later claimed to Megyn Kelly it happened on 1st floor, but that is even more highly trafficked area, and does not have any areas that would not be visible to those passing by. In 2020 told The Union ("Union 2"), says somewhere between Senate building and adjacent building.
Again, victims’ memories are often imperfect, but these changes are troubling: like those to Medium article, shows awareness of contradiction, and effort to change story to fit new claim, especially if old claim is shown to be unlikely, or even essentially impossible.
Similar pattern in Reade’s claims related to her marriage and divorce from Theodore Dronen, including inconsistent details, provably false claims about him, changing stories on why the marriage ended, and descriptions of his violent behavior growing worse in later tellings.
Quotes from Quillette: quillette.com/2020/05/14/tar…
In Halper interview, claimed not to be wearing hosiery on day of alleged assault. Many (including @CheriJacobus) note wearing hosiery at all times was a regular part of professional dress code in DC at the time, to the point that an article on it was published in 1993 ("WaPo 1").
Claims wasn’t wearing hosiery b/c too warm. Reade alleges incident in March or April, but it didn’t reach 70 in March, Congress in session only April 8-18, high of 77 on 4/15, and 79 on 4/16. Overnight lows of 46 and 39, respectively, so likely in mid-50s when leaving for work.
Weather records searchable here: almanac.com/weather
Congressional session dates for 1993 here: history.house.gov/Institution/Se…
Congressional session dates for 1993 here: history.house.gov/Institution/Se…
To Kelly, Reade changed story from wearing panties (that Biden allegedly reached under) to claiming she was wearing crotchless panties, anticipating sex with her boyfriend. Needless to say, this would be a significant violation of any Congressional dress code.
Claims she filed a report (later an intake form) on Biden misconduct w/Senate personnel office, but w/o mention of assault or harassment (per Vox, no record found). Biden asked Sec of Senate release it (or any other sexual misconduct records), but law prohibits its release.
Sec of Senate says if she had, rules required her to receive counseling first ("NBC 2"). Told AP ("AP 1") in 2019 she “chickened out,” making it highly unlikely report was submitted. Also, a filed report would’ve required an official hearing, but again, no record of it (WaPo 2).
NBC 1: nbcnews.com/politics/2020-…
AP 1: apnews.com/aec7beb03e9e0e…
WaPo 2: washingtonpost.com/politics/devel…
AP 1: apnews.com/aec7beb03e9e0e…
WaPo 2: washingtonpost.com/politics/devel…
In 2019, reporter from Vox helped Reade find an employment document with dates of employment and pay (pic from Reade). They tried to find the complaint file at the Office of Personnel Management and a county records warehouse, but no such record was found.
Conspiracy theorists have suggested Biden and/or his staff may have secretly removed the file. Here’s a thread by @STEMthebleeding on how it would be nearly impossible for them to do so undetected.
In interview w/Ball, says didn’t claim assault in 2008 to protect Obama's candidacy, but could've come forward in June when VP discussions began in media outlets, well before his selection on 8/23/08. Also, head of Obama vetting team says they found nothing like this at the time.
LA Times article from June 2008 on veepstakes (Biden gets his own paragraph): latimes.com/archives/la-xp…
After first interview, claims to Halper ("Current Affairs 1") tried to tell assault story in 2019 interview w/Union, but interviewer “shut [her] down." Unlikely, since sensational story means more readers/money, and readership not likely pro-Biden (Bernie won the county by 13%).
Current Affairs 1: currentaffairs.org/2020/03/tara-r…
She also claimed to Halper in Current Affairs interview to have been “silenced” by media outlets. But as noted by AP1 and Vox, this is not true. Several outlets spoke with her, but decided not to publish her story, since they could not verify key details.
Recently, Vox reporter who helped her find employment doc firmly states she didn’t try to shut her down, even if her claim was assault; instead notes she’d be happy for the scoop, if she could verify it. In response, Reade claims she was speaking of journalists “collectively.”
On 4/9/20, Reade filed a police report claiming assault in 1993, but doesn’t name Biden, or any of the corroborators. This is noteworthy, since it would make her legally vulnerable if her story on Biden is later found to be false. Investigation briefly active, now inactive.
NPR (“NPR 1”) claims she did name Biden, citing “confirmation” from an unnamed “law enforcement source” (they’ve filed a FOIA request). No other outlet claims such confirmation, but if the document surfaces, I will include it here.
NPR 1: npr.org/2020/04/19/837…
Also in 2020, filed report claiming harassment from people on social media accusing her of being a Russian agent. I haven’t seen details, but to be a crime, it would have to be more than simply claiming or suggesting it, but rather targeted harassment.
Per AP ("AP 2"), she recently hired two lawyers, though she has not filed any suits. One is a strong Trump supporter who contributed $55K to his 2016 campaign, the other is a former writer for one of Putin’s propaganda outlets, Sputnik.
AP2: apnews.com/10d2842623b2c2…
AP2: apnews.com/10d2842623b2c2…
Corroborations:
NYT interviewed staff/aides in Biden’s office at the time: none recall hearing about the alleged incident or her complaint, but two aides do remember her losing supervisory role around that time (more on this below).
nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/…
NYT interviewed staff/aides in Biden’s office at the time: none recall hearing about the alleged incident or her complaint, but two aides do remember her losing supervisory role around that time (more on this below).
nytimes.com/2020/04/12/us/…
Says she told mother of assault in 1993. Mother died 2016, but person from same CA town called Larry King (theme of episode was “cutthroat nature of Washington DC"), saying daughter had "problems" working for DC Senator. Timing lines up, but no mention of harassment or assault.
Larry King video available here:
Some Sanders supporters falsely claimed CNN removed the interview to protect Biden. The video is not publicly available from CNN; it's listed on a Google Play playlist (not available for play), and the video containing the phone call was mislabeled.
snopes.com/fact-check/cnn…
snopes.com/fact-check/cnn…
Brother says she told him of assault in 1993, but didn’t mention it in initial interviews w/ABC and WaPo 2, telling ABC in 2020 he "only heard her account of the assault this spring.” Sent “clarifying” text to outlets after speaking w/Sanders supporter Nathan Robinson.
In a 1996 transcript of court proceedings in which ex-husband, Theodore Dronen, was contesting Reade's restraining order, he claims she complained of sexual harassment while working in Biden’s office, but doesn’t mention assault, or name Biden as harasser. More on this below.
Transcript paragraph given here: sanluisobispo.com/news/politics-…
Lorraine Sanchez, a colleague of Reade’s in the CA legislator’s office where she worked at after job in Biden’s office says Reade told her of sexual harassment and firing in mid-90s, but says Reade didn’t mention assault at the time.
Reade’s former neighbor in CA, Lynda LaCasse, says Reade told her assault story in 1995. According to LaCasse, she remembered assault story in 2020 after speaking w/Reade privately; spoke w/her about "touching" story in 2019. LaCasse later said Biden’s denial “believable.”
Sanchez/LaCasse claims from Business Insider (“BI 1”): businessinsider.com/former-neighbo…
Reporter claims LaCasse social media included favorable statements on Biden and Sanders, but Twitter and Facebook wiped clean of any such references.
LaCasse’s “believable”: democracynow.org/2020/5/1/lynda…
Reporter claims LaCasse social media included favorable statements on Biden and Sanders, but Twitter and Facebook wiped clean of any such references.
LaCasse’s “believable”: democracynow.org/2020/5/1/lynda…
With one exception, all others Reade referred to news outlets for corroboration recall only her telling story of alleged harassment, or making general claims of unwelcome, non-sexual touching, but not assault. Others don't recall anything at all, per NBC (“NBC 2”).
NBC 2: nbcnews.com/politics/2020-…
Exception is friend who says Reade told her assault story in mid-90s, but only anonymously, so credibility can’t be tested (quote from NYT). In summary, it is clear Reade was telling “touching” story in mid-90s, but confirmations of assault story being told all have an asterisk.
Reporter from Vox spoke to anonymous friend (not clear if it's same anonymous friend) who in 2019 told her only the “touching” story, but when re-interviewed in 2020, told assault story. When asked why, friend says the story from Reade “just organically rolled out that way.”
Reade contacted former acquaintance after telling “touching” story publicly in 2019, who said she felt Reade was trying to “plant a story” she could point to later as corroboration, which raises the possibility of the same pattern w/others who “remembered” assault story in 2020.
Quote from Politico: politico.com/news/2020/05/1…
Unlike Christine Blasey-Ford, Reade declined to share therapist notes from the mid-90s (per WaPo 2), which is significant, as it would provide account from a neutral party, as opposed to family or friends. She also declined a suggestion from Megyn Kelly to take a polygraph test.
Some have suggested that social mores of the early 1990s would’ve trivialized such a claim, but this is false. Fed law passed 1980, affirmed 9-0 by SCOTUS in 1986, and harassment was prominently in news cycle in 1993, not least because of Sen. Bob Packwood’s scandal.
NOTE: telling story at the time doesn't prove alleged accusation. A woman recently claimed Biden commented on her breasts when she was 14. Six people said on record that she told them at the time. But Biden wasn’t there, as verified by event host and extensive documentation.
Quote on story told: lawandcrime.com/high-profile/w…
Documentation Biden was not in attendance here: foxnews.com/politics/dinne…
Documentation Biden was not in attendance here: foxnews.com/politics/dinne…
Leaving Biden's office:
In 2009 Medium article, said she left to follow spouse to new job, didn’t mention assault. Possibly because it didn’t happen, or in/voluntarily choice to avoid trauma of memory. Not in politics in 2009, so not likely protecting professional prospects.
In 2009 Medium article, said she left to follow spouse to new job, didn’t mention assault. Possibly because it didn’t happen, or in/voluntarily choice to avoid trauma of memory. Not in politics in 2009, so not likely protecting professional prospects.
In 2018 Medium article (also since deleted), says she “resigned” to pursue various career opportunities, and that she wanted to leave DC because she “saw the reckless imperialism of America,” further noting, “I love Russia with all my heart.”
(More on Russia later)
(More on Russia later)
Contradiction in 2019 saying she was "forced out" for refusing to serve drinks at a party (told at Biden’s request). Blamed staff (per WaPo 3): “It’s not him,” and “did not even know if he realized why I left" (aligns w/Dronen's claim she "struck a deal" with *staff*).
Pic 1 from Union 1
Pic 2 from WaPo 3: washingtonpost.com/politics/forme…
Pic 3 from 2019 Medium article
Pic 2 from WaPo 3: washingtonpost.com/politics/forme…
Pic 3 from 2019 Medium article
David Wheeler, who arranged 100s of such political parties, on drinks story: if official gov't function, union rules prohibited her from serving, and liability would be a concern for any caterer at a private event. Possibility of a U.S. Senator not using pro caterer very low.
Full thread here:
Per PBS, other Biden staffers from the time say he never used staff for such events. Additionally, a lawyer on staff for him at the time says he once “told off” a colleague for commenting on her physical appearance, which is deeply inconsistent with Reade’s claim.
Again contradicts herself by claiming in 2020 that Biden himself “fired” her, which is also inconsistent with her earlier claim that she wasn't even sure "if he realized why I left" (Medium 2019).
Employment document from Reade shows her salary decreased twice in February (likely related to loss of supervisory duties). This is before the earliest time she's suggested alleged assault happened, which means it could not be in retaliation for speaking out.
Supervisor from the time says she struggled with duties other staffers did not struggle with, and issues with professional dress, for which she was dismissed (per PBS). These could explain her loss of the supervisory role, and pay cuts in February 1993.
Two days before leaving Biden's office, she was charged with *knowingly* (see statute) passing bad checks. No direct evidence it impacted her termination, and her lawyer claims (w/o evidence) she left office in July, with termination date referring to end of salary payments.
Court record now expunged. Reade’s lawyer claims she paid fine, case dismissed (again, w/o evidence). Possible, but also may have pled to lesser charge w/fine, no jail time. BUT financial troubles are considered a security risk for gov’t employees, so it could have led to firing.
These issues could be impetus for "deal" w/Biden staff, and confirms her "need for money" (per ex-husband). They could also be “problem” the person Reade claims is her mother mentions to Larry King, which would also explain why she still had “respect” for him, if not staff.
Summary: some details of her various stories are inconsistent, some are contradictory, some are essentially disprovable. This weighs on credibility, which is the basis for judging the veracity of her claim. This, along w/Biden's behavioral patterns, considered in next thread.
@threadreaderapp unroll
Unrolled version here: threadreaderapp.com/thread/1262035…
