Joe Biden delivered what few democratic primary voters were expecting this year, a neat and orderly primary. After a February that saw candidates rise and fall through various parts of the country, he began a snowball effect in South Carolina that carried him through Super Tuesday. By then, support was coalescing around him, only hastened by Bernie Sanders dropping out of the race on April 8th. Coupled with endorsements from Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton, his path to Election Day seemed inevitable.

Until Tara Reade.

Tara Reade alleges that then Senator Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993. She began working in his Senate Office in late 1992 at an entry-level position. She claims he pinned her to a wall after she brought him a gym bag, and proceeded to sexually assault her. This claim can be at least partially corroborated by a Larry King Live interview in 1993, in which her mom called in asking for advice on what to do after her daughter had problems with a “prominent senator.” A neighbor in California to Ms. Reade in the mid-90’s claims Tara confided in her about the alleged assault.

Joe Biden has a problem with keeping his hands to himself. This was raised in March of 2019, prior to the announcement of his campaign. The issue was raised by Lucy Flores, a Nevada lawmaker. She claims Biden inappropriately grabbed her shoulders and in her words, “inhaled my hair,” and “proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head.” This allegation brought on six more from other women, alleging he had acted in inappropriate ways. However, none of these complaints reached the bar of sexual assault. Joe’s campaign ventured on largely unscathed from these early issues.

When examining allegations like this it’s important to take a historical approach. Joe Biden likes to flaunt his support in getting the Violence Against Women Act passed in 1994. This was monumental legislation we should all be proud of. However, drafting legislation- and voting to protect women- doesn’t exempt the distinct possibility that you could still victimize them. Ms. Reade’s narrative happened only two years after Joe Biden had attacked another woman as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Anita Hill. He essentially allowed a young, African-American woman’s reputation to be dragged through the mud. He failed to call corroborating witnesses, even as they readily volunteered to testify.

Joe Biden was on Morning Joe on MSNBC May 1st, and flatly denied the allegation. He also wrote a piece on Medium, saying in regards to the accusations, “They aren’t true. This never happened.” However, this claim was first made back in March and most news networks have rejected covering the story. Whether or not these claims are valid, it is the responsibility of reporters and journalists to cover relevant news. By failing to act more swiftly in addressing the issue, they are somewhat playing in to Donald Trump’s narrative that mainstream media tries to protect Democratic candidates. Whether this was the case, or coronavirus coverage trumped all other news during this time, it doesn’t particularly matter. The narrative has already begun to be woven. If we learned anything from Hillary Clinton’s failed 2016 Presidential run, it’s that controlling the narrative is just as important, if not more so, than the event itself. Clinton has her own cross to bear in failing to get out ahead of Benghazi and her “damn emails.” While she has been roundly vindicated, the damage was already done.

In the age of #MeToo, is a denial enough to vindicate? Joe Biden’s defense seemed well rehearsed, however, there were some holes in it. His confidence in requesting that the National Archives be searched for such a complaint made it appear as if he knew they wouldn’t find anything. Maybe because it doesn’t exist, or maybe because he knows the record has been amended. His further desire to have his personal papers at the University of Delaware kept private until he is two years out of public life makes us wonder what he is worried people will find. You would think those who have nothing to hide would be willing to go as far as possible to be vindicated.

Further, we may remind ourselves that while Trump has twenty-five women who have accused him of sexual assault and misconduct, one claim is too many. Whether this claim can be validated, the ball has begun rolling. In a somewhat strange twist, Trump actually appears to be defending Joe Biden, saying in a White House Press Briefing, “It could be false accusations. I know all about false accusations – I’ve been falsely charged numerous times, and there is such a thing.” It’s possible the President sees Joe Biden as a less formidable candidate than the likes of Bernie Sanders, Andrew Cuomo or even Hillary Clinton.

Joe Biden is in a precarious place. He has staked a career on protecting women, and he is now faced with a serious allegation of misconduct. This is the same Joe Biden that addressed and championed campus sexual assault awareness at the Oscars with Lady Gaga in 2016. The “Son of Scranton” has already announced he intends to pick a woman as his Vice President, however, finding Senators and Governors willing to pin their political future to a candidate accused of sexual assault will be a monumental task, if not insurmountable. Joe Biden should be working feverishly not to sweep this under the rug, but to be wholly vindicated.