Read on Twitter
New: A complicated life and conflicting accounts -- A deep dive into Tara Reade’s life, and what Reade, friends and acquaintances, and Joe Biden aides, have said about what happened in 1993 and in the years since. w/ @EllieCKaufman http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
We lay out here in one place our collective reporting about Reade’s allegations against Biden. Who remembers what and from when? What’s been corroborated? What’s been challenged? Have any stories changed over time? What’s been consistent? http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
A new account: Ben Savage, Reade’s ex-colleague, told CNN that as Reade was leaving Biden’s office, she told him she was being fired because of a specific medical issue. He declined to be quoted on specific medical condition he says she shared. http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
Reade has said she was fired for reporting sexual harassment. Her lawyer says she was in fact having health issues: “Yes, she was being sexually harassed & retaliated against and ultimately sexually assaulted. She did miss days of work bc of all of this.” http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
Reade says she vaguely remembers Savage, but referred all Qs about him to her lawyer. Her lawyer cast doubt on how Savage could possibly know about the circumstances of Reade’s termination, when some of her supervisors say they don’t remember her at all. http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
Stacey Lentz, Reade’s close friend from DC days, says she doesn’t remember discussing harassment or assault. But she now thinks something was up: “There was drama w/ her work. I can see flashes of her talking to me. She wasn’t having a great time at work.” http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
One thing that complicates reporting on Tara Reade is what happened after she left her marriage. There was a name change (Alexandra McCabe). She says she got her BA from Antioch University under a “protected program” to protect her identity, and that she was a visiting professor.
But a university spox told CNN: "Alexandra McCabe attended but did not graduate from Antioch University. She was never a faculty member. She did provide several hours of administrative work."
School official also said that such a "protected program" does not exist & never has.
School official also said that such a "protected program" does not exist & never has.
In recent years, Reade has said positive things about Biden on social media, and also to some acquaintances.
"I said, 'Is he a good guy?' Because I'm just curious to know," one woman recalled. "And she said, 'Oh yeah, he is.'” http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
"I said, 'Is he a good guy?' Because I'm just curious to know," one woman recalled. "And she said, 'Oh yeah, he is.'” http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
Asked why she’s spoken favorably about Biden, Reade told CNN that she was "very conflicted about how I felt about Joe Biden," in part because she believed he was doing good work on women's issues.
"Many things are true at once.” http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
"Many things are true at once.” http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
Victims do not always tell consistent stories about their abusers & experiences. It is also not uncommon for victims to not discuss abuses even w/ close family or friends. Sometimes they have even praised the individual that they later accuse of assault. http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
Last week, PBS published a story based on interviews w/ 74 former Biden staffers, the most extensive effort of this kind to date.
Something that stood out from our own interviews with Biden staffers from the 90s… @LisaDNews @DanielBush https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-74-former-biden-staffers-think-about-tara-reades-allegations
Something that stood out from our own interviews with Biden staffers from the 90s… @LisaDNews @DanielBush https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-74-former-biden-staffers-think-about-tara-reades-allegations
Reade and a close friend have described specific meetings attended by Biden, junior staff and interns where he allegedly touched Reade, but some aides who worked there for years couldn’t recall a single meeting w/ all present. http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
One possible reason? Office layout. The “front room” where staff assistants (like Reade), interns & receptionists worked was down the hall from (separated by Strom Thurmond’s office) where Biden worked. He rarely interacted with junior staff, aides said. http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
Reade’s lawyer reiterated Reade was touched “several times inappropriately” by Biden. “There were several occasions where the senator met with the interns, some formal, some not.” http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
We also explore questions about last year vs. this year. Reade faced a ton of backlash when she came forward w/ harassment allegation (but not yet assault) last year. Reade has said the whole Russian agent theory was devastating. http://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/politics/tara-reade-biden-allegation/index.html
