in his defense
GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham defends Biden as 'my friend,' says he wasn't 'driven by malice'
As former Vice President Joe Biden continues to face allegations of making women uncomfortable with inappropriate touching, some Republicans are coming to his defense.
The latest was Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who on Wednesday said that Biden "is my friend" and that "whatever he did, it may have been inappropriate, but it was not driven by malice or misconduct," per NBC's Frank Thorp.
Four women over the past week have said that Biden made them feel uncomfortable with inappropriate touching, with two more saying as much on Tuesday, per The New York Times.
Previously, Biden had received a defense from Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who said that he is "very friendly" and a "natural toucher" but that she "never found him to be inappropriate," per HuffPost. The View's Meghan McCain also defended Biden on Monday, tweeting that he is "one of the truly decent and compassionate men in all of American politics."
Democrats are also coming to Biden's defense, including Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), who said that the former vice president is a "warm and friendly" person and that he "didn't mean it as anything other than that," per Axios. Some 2020 presidential candidates have offered more criticism, though, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) saying that "Joe Biden needs to give an answer." Thus far, however, these Democrats have generally declined to say Biden should not run as a result.
This reaction stands in contrast to that of the pro-Trump Great America PAC, which is already out with an ad titled "Creepy Joe." Biden has said per CNN that "not once" did he "believe I acted inappropriately." He has also privately said the allegations will not dissuade him from a presidential run, The New York Times reports.