Due Weight And Due Process

There's still more of the story to come, despite former VP Joe Biden's forceful and categorical denial of his accuser Tara Reade's claims of sexual assault in the early '90s. One would think that if Biden or his team had any doubt of his innocence, they would have counseled a more nuanced response, or full disclosure. He was right to acknowledge that the accuser in a sexual assault case should be given the benefit of the doubt, and that such claims need to be fully investigated regardless of the accused's position, and let the chips fall where they may.

After the allegation was looked into by the New York Times and found to have inconsistencies, others have given Reade's claim a closer going over. Former state and Federal prosecutor Michael J. Stern expressed his skepticism in an opinion piece the day before Biden's denial. Acting as a virtual defense lawyer, he discusses his reasons for skepticism in several categories:

• Implausible explanation for changing story
• People who contradict Reade's claim
• Missing formal complaint
• Memory lapse
• Compliments for Biden
• Rejecting Biden and supporting Sen. Sanders
• Admiration for Vladimir Putin

One of the more bizarre angles is her open admiration, sometimes expressed in sensuous terms, for Russian thug Putin. That certainly doesn't refute her claim, but it's an odd piece of the puzzle to be considered, as are the missing complaint and changing story.

In a opinion piece at CNN.com, Lucia Brawley, a tech company executive, offers her perspective on the accusations:

"Even though for many Americans the implications of her accusations are horrible, even though many of us fear this he-said-she-said case might destroy our country's one chance to rid itself of President Donald Trump, we must not reflexively discredit her, or give Biden a pass, or look away. 

We must always listen to women's accounts of sexual assault. We must give them their due weight. 

But listening to every woman doesn't necessarily mean believing every woman. We can be skeptical of the accused -- in this case a presumptive Democratic candidate for the highest position in the land -- and his supporters, and demand a response to the allegations. Biden has now given one. We need to decide whether we believe him. In doing so we must also follow the facts." (our emphasis)

Finally, David Axelrod, a former aide to President Obama, points out that Biden was extensively vetted in 2008 before being place on the Presidential ticket. That process is long and brutal, looking into everything that might damage the candidate. They found nothing. We're waiting to see what Biden's National Archive records have, if anything. In the meantime, deep breath everyone and focus on the facts.

BONUS:  Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog noticed something interesting in a story about Reade not mentioning sexual assault in a "limited report" she filed concerning Joe Biden years ago.