Biden Spox Says ‘Smears And Forgeries’ Weaponized By ‘Right Wing Trolls’

Keynote speaker former Vice President Joe Biden pauses during his speech during the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law 20th Anniversary Gala at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. The annual event serves as the school’s principal scholarship fundraiser. (AP Photo / Las Vegas Sun, Yasmina Chavez)
FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 file photo, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law 20th Anniversary Gala at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. On Monday, Dec. 4, 201... FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 file photo, former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law 20th Anniversary Gala at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. On Monday, Dec. 4, 2018, Biden said he believes that he is the most qualified person in the country to be president. (Yasmina Chavez/Las Vegas Sun via AP) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

In a new statement defending former Vice President Joe Biden, spokesman Bill Russo argued on Monday that some of the images that have been circulated in the wake of former candidate for Nevada lieutenant governor Lucy Flores’ story are “smears” and “forgeries” used by “right wing trolls” to hurt Biden.

He singled out a picture of Biden with his hands on the shoulders of Stephanie Carter, wife of former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, at his swearing in. The picture had been shared as evidence of Biden’s inappropriate behavior, but Carter wrote a blog post Monday saying that she did not feel uncomfortable and that Biden is a friend who was offering support.

Flores alleged that Biden once unexpectedly kissed her on the head, a move she does not feel rises to the level of sexual harassment, but she believes is nonetheless inappropriate and unprofessional.

Biden responded with a statement saying that he did not mean to cause any discomfort and pledged to listen to Flores and any other woman who has had a similar experience.

Read Russo’s full statement here via a Yahoo News reporter:

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. I’m actually surprised and a little disappointed that he didn’t blame it on Putin’s Puppets or Russian Troll Farms…

  2. Avatar for bdtex bdtex says:

    It’s not just rightwing trolls using them.

  3. Please don’t consider this post to be a detente moment, but it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s the next move.

  4. “In a new statement defending former Vice President Joe Biden, spokesman Bill Russo argued on Monday that some of the images that have been circulated in the wake of former candidate for Nevada lieutenant governor Lucy Flores’ story are “smears” and “forgeries” used by “right wing trolls” to hurt Biden.”

    I agree. But that photo on the InfoWars website of Biden banging a goat looks pretty real to me. I think he needs to address that.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

125 more replies

Participants

Avatar for ajm Avatar for fgs Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for imkmu3 Avatar for clemmers Avatar for inversion Avatar for arrendis Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for drriddle Avatar for 26degreesrising Avatar for longtimeobserver Avatar for quax Avatar for keninmn Avatar for ollie Avatar for califdemdreamer Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for berkyjay Avatar for bodie1 Avatar for erik_t Avatar for katex Avatar for zenicetus Avatar for rascal_crone Avatar for dicktater

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: