Former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile explained her reasoning on Friday why she believes former Vice President Joe Biden did not sexually assault former Senate staffer Tara Reade in 1993 after he flatly denied the allegation.
Biden, now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said to MSNBC Friday morning the incident Reade has described as being "not true. I'm saying unequivocally it never, never happened. And it didn't. It never happened."
"I thought he was straightforward. I thought he came out and said what many of us have counseled him, and that is, to tell the truth, and to lay out the facts," Brazile said.
"Here's what I want everyone else to know when it comes to sexual harassment, when it comes to the guidelines, when it comes to believing women, when it comes to making sure that they are treated with respect. I think the Democrats have written the playbook throughout the last 30 years, especially in the 27 years that we are talking about. We're talking about women who have come forward to tell their story, to make sure that they are heard and respected. And that is what Joe Biden requested, that it be investigated. That she be believed, and that she be heard," she continued.
Fox News host Dana Perino and contributor Ari Fleischer had to repeatedly ask Brazile if she believes Reade's claim.
"I believe that Joe Biden is telling the truth. I also believe that Tara Reade — who first said it was sexual harassment, and now said it's sexual assault — I believe she has every opportunity to be respected and to tell her story. That's what happened. That's what happens when you come forward. You have to tell your story," Brazile said.
