Former vice president Joe Biden is currently facing sexual assault allegations by former staff member Tara Reade. In an effort to clear his name, Biden requested for the record of Reade’s complaint at the National Archives, only to be rejected by the Senate Secretary.
Politico reports that the Secretary of the Senate Julie Adams rejected Biden’s request to view the documents Reade filed at the Capitol personnel office during the time. However, Adams stated that the Senate chamber has “no discretion” to reveal the information Biden needed. Biden finally broke his silence regarding the allegations during an interview, denying such allegations ever happened. The former vice president also stated that the records, if Reade really filed any, of such allegations should be found in the National Archives and released to reveal the truth.
The Archives revealed that the documents Reade filed were with the Senate. According to Senate rules, the documents appear to be with the General Services Administration, who then said that the records would be at the National Archives.
The Biden campaign since responded to the rejection letter given by the Senate. They asked that since the release of the records would be subject to disclosure if there was someone other than Reade who could be able to request that the documents be released as well as the possibility of the Senate to release the procedures and materials that were obtained and taken at the Office of Senate Fair Employment Practices back in 1993.
Previously, Biden’s campaign revealed the members of the panel that will be in charge of vetting potential candidates to become the former vice president’s running mate in the November elections. The panel will be composed of Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, Delaware Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, Los Angeles Mayor who also serves as co-chair of the campaign Eric Garcetti, and former White House and Senate Counsel Cynthia Hogan.
The panel will be assisted by former White House Counsel Bob Bauer, Biden Adviser Anita Dunn’s husband, campaign general counsel Dana Remus, and former Homeland Security Adviser Lisa Monaco.
According to Jen O’Malley Dillon, the Biden campaign manager in a statement, “These four co-chairs reflect the strength and diversity of our party and will provide tremendous insight and expertise to what would be a rigorous selection and vetting process.”