Biden spokesman slams 'smears and forgeries' from 'right-wing trolls' after harassment complaint


This is... one way to not apologize.
On Friday, former Nevada assemblywoman and onetime Democratic candidate for the state's lieutenant governor Lucy Flores said former Vice President Joe Biden kissed her without permission in 2014. Biden did not apologize for or dispute the action, but said he "never" believed he "acted inappropriately" in his many years in politics. For some reason, Biden spokesman Bill Russo decided to take it all a step further.
In a Monday statement, Russo described how Flores' essay prompted a second look at photos of Biden appearing to be uncomfortably touching or interacting with women. Two of those women have recently said they didn't have a problem with Biden's actions, Russo pointed out. But despite those old photos showing behavior similar to what Flores says she experienced, Russo went into a full-on debunking rant about "insidious examples" of harassment claims with "no foundation." He cited "photoshopped images and other manipulations of social media" being used against Biden, and issued a blanket condemnation of these "smears and forgeries" that "right-wing trolls ... continue to exploit."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Critics have called out Biden for issuing a pretty gentle response to Flores' accusations, perhaps sparking Russo's stronger-worded message.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US