#MeToo: these are the women who accuse Joe Bidden

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Four women denounced the former US vice president for alleged sexual abuse actions against them

Joe Biden, who served as Barack Obama's vice president during his tenure as chief executive from 2009 to 2017, is in the eye of the storm for alleged sexual abuse against four women; two of them members of North American politics.

Leer en español: #MeToo: estas son las mujeres que acusan a Joe Biden

Lucy Flores

The first woman to publicly express her displeasure with the former vice-president's physical interaction was Nevada's Democratic politician, Lucy Flores, through an article published on March 29 in The Cut magazine, according to BBC information.

According to the newspaper La Vanguardia, Flores showed her dissatisfaction with an event that occurred in 2014, during an act of campaign prior to the voting that year, in which the former congresswoman sought to remain with the position of lieutenant governor of the state of Nevada.

"I felt two hands on my shoulders. I was frozen. Why does the Vice President of the United States touch me?" Was the description Flores makes of the moment, assuring that the most embarrassing moment was when Biden kissed her, without her authorization, on the neck. "He proceeded to put a big slow kiss on the back of my head (…) The vice president of the USA. He had just touched me in an intimate way reserved for close friends, family or romantic partners," she wrote.

Amy Lappos

An ex-adviser to Democratic congresswoman Jim Himes was the second woman who showed her nonconformity with the personal treatment shown by Biden, during an interview with the American newspaper Hartford Courant.

Amy Lappos said that, boldly, the former vice president took her face and forced her to brush each other's noses, during a charity event, in 2009. "It was not sexual, but he grabbed me by the head (…) I put his hand around my neck and he pulled me to brush my nose against his. When he was pulling me, I thought he was going to kiss me on the mouth," the woman said in statements quoted by CNN.

However, when asked why she had not reported this situation before, Lappos indicated that the fact that he was the vice president at that time had a lot to do.

With all that, the alleged victim clarified that today she has a different perspective of what happened, because "there is, absolutely, a line of decency. There is a line of respect. Crossing that line is not acting like a grandfather. It is not cultural. It is not affection. It's sexism or misogyny."

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Caitlyn Caruso

On April 2, Caitlyn Caruso joined the list of women who denounced Joe Biden; this time for a moment when the Democratic politician placed his hand on the woman's leg. In conversation with The New York Times, Caruso explained that the contact continued "even as (she) writhed in the seat to show her discomfort."

"It does not even cross your mind that such a person would dare to perpetrate such damage (…) These are supposed to be people you can trust," said the 22-year-old woman.

The incident took place during a sexual assault event at the University of Nevada, according to the US newspaper, after the 19-year-old at that time, "had just shared her own story of sexual assault and hoped that Mr. Biden, an architect of the 1994 Law on Violence Against Women, understood the importance of physical limits."

DJ Hill

The last woman to describe the uncomfortable moment she lived with the former vice president was the 59-year-old author, DJ Hill, who also reported her complaint in an interview with The New York Times.

In 2012, during a fundraising event, Hill, along with her husband, approached Biden to take a picture. It was at that moment that the politician put his hand on the woman's shoulder. Up to that point, everything was normal. However, what made the author feel "very uncomfortable" was when Joe's hand began to slide on her back.

"Only he knows his intention," Hill said.

"I will be more respectful"

Given the criticism, Joe Biden decided to make a video in which, although he did not apologize, promised to be "much more careful" in the midst of physical contacts with people. "I listen to what they say, I understand, and I will be much more careful. That is my responsibility, and I will comply with it (…) I will be much more careful and respectful of people's personal space," said the Democrat in the recording.

Even so, he explained that he will not stop being close to people, because that is his "responsibility" with the public that supports him. "Throughout my career, I have always tried to establish a human connection (with people), because I believe that is my responsibility. Shake hands, hug people, I grab men and women by the shoulders and say 'you can get this,'" he said.

Although for the time being there has been no talk of an investigation in which the complaints made by the four women can be verified, the situation alone has already begun to affect Biden's public image, as he is positioned as one of the politicians with the best options for staying with the Democratic candidacy for the presidential elections of 2020.

LatinAmerican Post | Christopher Ramirez

Translated from "#MeToo: estas son las mujeres que acusan a Joe Biden​​​​​"​