Amy Klobuchar says she believes Biden accuser while Sander said it doesn’t disqualify Biden from bid

Democratic presidential contender Amy Klobuchar said she had ‘no reason’ not to believe Joe Biden’s accuser while Sen. Bernie Sanders said the incident doesn’t disqualify the former vice president from running in 2020.

‘I have not read her interview, but I know the vice president addressed it there in that statement and he will continue to address it if he decides to get into this race,’ Klobuchar said of Lucy Flores’ accusation.

‘I have no reason not to believe her,’ she noted on ABC’s ‘This Week.’ 

Sen. Amy Klobuchar said she had ‘no reason’ not to believe Joe Biden’s accuser

Sen. Bernie Sanders said the incident doesn't disqualify Biden from running

Sen. Bernie Sanders said the incident doesn’t disqualify Biden from running

‘I think we know from campaigns and from politics that people raise issues and they have to address them and that’s what he will have to do with voters if he gets into the race,’ the Democratic senator from Minnesota added. 

As Biden is dealing with the fallout from the allegations, his 2020 rivals are getting asked their opinion on the matter as the accusation overshadows the race for the Democratic nomination.  

Sanders said he’s not convinced Biden is disqualified from the presidency from ‘one incident.’ 

‘I’m not sure that one incident alone disqualifies anybody, but her point is absolutely right. This is an issue not just for Democrats or Republicans, but the entire country has got to take seriously. It is not acceptable that when woman goes to work or is in any kind of environment that she feels anything less than comfortable and safe. And this is an issue the entire country has got to work on,’ he said on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation.’ 

‘I have no reason not to believe Lucy, and I think what this speaks to is the need to fundamentally change the culture of this country and to create environments where women feel comfortable and feel safe. That’s something we have got to do,’ the Independent senator from Vermont said.

Sanders had to deal with accusations from women who worked on his 2016 campaign who claimed they were sexually harassed by aides and paid less than their male counterparts. He apologized for their treatment in January. 

And he said on Sunday he had practices in place to keep it from happening again. 

‘We have established the strongest protocol to prevent this from happening of any campaign in history,’ he said.

Biden is dealing with a #MeToo moment of his own ahead of his expected declaration for the White House next month. 

Many of his 2020 Democratic competition have said they believe his accuser without bashing the former vice president. 

No one has yet called for him not to run for the nomination. 

Campaigning in Iowa this weekend, Elizabeth Warren said ‘I believe Lucy Flores and Joe Biden needs to give an answer.’

Asked if she thinks Biden should reconsider his bid for the presidency, Warren replied: ‘That’s for Joe Biden to decide.’ 

The Democratic senator from Massachusetts was the first to address the allegations, opening the gate for her 2020 rivals to speak. 

Democrat Elizabeth Warren became the first 2020 presidential candidate to address the accusations saying 'believe Lucy Flores and Joe Biden needs to give an answer'

Democrat Elizabeth Warren became the first 2020 presidential candidate to address the accusations saying ‘believe Lucy Flores and Joe Biden needs to give an answer’

Former Vice President Joe Biden defended his years of what he called 'expressions of affection'

Former Vice President Joe Biden defended his years of what he called ‘expressions of affection’

Biden on Sunday defended his years of what he called ‘expressions of affection’ and claimed he ‘not once – never – did I believe I acted inappropriately.’

‘In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And not once – never – did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully,’ he said in a statement. 

‘But it was never my intention. I may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised at what I hear. But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will.’

Biden, who is expected to enter the race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in the next month, is known for giving hugs, kisses, and demonstrating affection in public. It was often the subject of jokes about his love of women while others labeled him ‘Creepy Uncle Joe.’

He’s now fighting that longtime reputation in the wake of allegations from a Nevada politician that he gave her an unwanted kiss to the back of her head.  

The talk of Biden presidential bid has been overshadowed by the accusation from Lucy Flores, a former Nevada politician who claims he grabbed her shoulders and kissed her head as he helped campaign for her in 2014.  

Flores, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in Nevada the year in question, recalled in a bombshell essay on Friday that Biden crossed the line with her physically as they worked together, leaving her feeling ‘gross and confused’. 

‘I’m glad that he’s willing to listen,’ Flores told CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ on Sunday morning of Biden’s response to her accusation.

‘If he is saying he never believed that was inappropriate frankly I believe that’s a little bit of a disconnection. And a sense of not being aware,’ she noted. ‘I just can’t imagine that there was never a situation where someone said to him, Mr. Vice president, you probably should stop doing that. You should probably stop touching women in that way, you should probably keep your hands to yourself.’

‘I want him to change his behavior and I want him to acknowledge this was wrong,’ she said.   

Flores said on Friday in a personal essay that Biden planted a 'big slow kiss' on the back of her head before she went on stage at a rally for her campaign on November 1, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada (Flores and Biden pictured above at that event)

Flores said on Friday in a personal essay that Biden planted a ‘big slow kiss’ on the back of her head before she went on stage at a rally for her campaign on November 1, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada (Flores and Biden pictured above at that event)

Before the event: Flores pictured with Biden and actress Eva Longoria prior to the alleged awkward kiss at the 2014 campaign event

Before the event: Flores pictured with Biden and actress Eva Longoria prior to the alleged awkward kiss at the 2014 campaign event

As Flores, then 35, and Biden, then 72, were at a rally for her campaign, Biden allegedly grabbed her by the shoulders from behind and kissed her hair. 

‘Biden was the second-most powerful man in the country and, arguably, one of the most powerful men in the world. He was there to promote me as the right person for the lieutenant governor job,’ Flores wrote in a personal essay for The Cut. 

‘Instead, he made me feel uneasy, gross, and confused,’ she added.

She recalled that before she went on stage to speak, Biden approached her and gave her the awkward, unwarranted kiss. 

‘I felt two hands on my shoulders. I froze. Why is the vice-president of the United States touching me?’ Flores recalled.

‘I felt him get closer to me from behind. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair. I was mortified. I thought to myself, ‘I didn’t wash my hair today and the vice-president of the United States is smelling it. And also, what in the actual f**k?’ 

‘He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldn’t process what was happening. I was embarrassed. I was shocked. I was confused,’ she added. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk