'Not every claim is equal': Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer believes Joe Biden did not rape Tara Reade
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Sunday, May 3, threw her weight behind Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee who has been accused of raping former aide Tara Reade, 27 years ago. Reade, 56, came forward with her accusation against the 77-year-old former vice president in late March. It was, however, only last week that Biden broke his silence on the matter and outright denied it. Reade also recently slammed the media saying it was not asking Biden enough questions over the charges besides lashing out at Democratic heavyweight Hillary Clinton for endorsing Biden.
Whitmer, 48, spoke to CNN in an interview in which she said not "every claim is equal". She said while people deserved an opportunity to tell their stories, it is also important to vet them. "Just because you're a survivor doesn't mean that every claim is equal," the first-time Democratic governor said.
"I have read a lot about this current allegation. I know Joe Biden, and I have watched his defense. And there's not a pattern that goes into this," she said, adding: "And I think that, for these reasons, I'm very comfortable that Joe Biden is who he says he is…. And I will tell you this. I don't believe that it's consistent with the Joe Biden that I know. And I do believe Joe, and I support Joe Biden."
Whitmer endorsed Biden for president on March 5
Whitmer endorsed Biden for president on March 5, days before her state went to the primaries. There was more than one reason for her support for the former Delaware senator, reported Politico. She also joined as one of the national co-chairs of the Biden campaign. Whitmer said both she and Biden have gone through the pain of seeing their loved ones dying from brain ailments (Whitmer’s mother and Biden’s elder son). She remained thankful to Biden for widening access to healthcare through the passage of the Affordable Care Act, which allowed her to expand Medicaid coverage in her state.
She also vouched for Biden keeping in mind the former Barack Obama-Biden administration’s act of bailing out major car manufacturers in the country during the 2009 Recession. She said while it was a great thing for the American economy, it was a personal favor for the people of Michigan.
Biden won the primary in Michigan on March 10 by clinching 53 percent of the votes.
The American political circle, which is an already polarized one, is seeing fresh debates over Reade’s allegations. While the Republican supporters are finding a bias in the media towards the handling of the allegations by a woman saying President Donald Trump faced vigorous scrutiny over similar challenges against him, the Democratic side fears that the issue would be dragged too far.
DNC Chair Tom Perez backs Biden too
Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez also supported Biden by dismissing calls for an independent investigation into the accusations. He even compared Reade’s charges to the email-related charges against Hillary in the 2016 election run-up because "there was nothing there". Speaking to ABC's 'This Week', Perez said, "The most comprehensive investigation of the vice president was when he was vetted by Barack Obama in 2008."
There are, however, at least four people who have backed Reade's allegations and President Trump said in a recent interview that Reade’s charges sounded more convincing than those brought against Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh by Christine Blasey Ford.