Former Obama administration Attorney General Eric Holder defended Joe Biden on on Bill Maher’s show, saying an allegation of sexual assault against the former vice president is "inconsistent with the person who I've come to know."
Former Obama AG #EricHolder is asked about the #Biden allegations on Real-Time with Bill Maher pic.twitter.com/dEVvZ51GLY
— The Modern Times of Long Beach (@ModernTimesLB) May 2, 2020
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), a member of House Democratic leadership, said allegations of sexual assault leveled against former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, must be investigated.
“It’s got to be taken seriously because this is a serious allegation raised by a serious individual and needs to be investigated seriously. We’ve probably got to hear from him [Biden] at some point directly,” Jeffries said Wednesday on WNYC when asked about allegations brought by Tara Reade, who worked for Biden when he was in the Senate.
Jeffries added that he still had to “delve deeper” into the allegations and was “not really in a position to say what is the appropriate mechanism” as he had been prioritizing responding to the coronavirus.
Reade came forward last month with allegations that Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 while she worked for the then-Delaware senator. Her claim began to pick up traction when a former neighbor of Reade's came forward to say that Reade told her about the allegation in the mid-1990s, marking the first time the accusation was corroborated on the record.
Stacey Abrams, who previously served as the minority leader in the Georgia state House of Representatives, has repeatedly voiced her interest in running as the Democratic Party's vice-presidential candidate. The politician from Georgia reasserted that desire and explained why she'd make a good partner for Biden during an interview with CNN's David Axelrod on the Thursday episode of his podcast The Axe Files.
"I have the deepest respect for every woman who is being talked about and who should be considered for this post," Abrams told Axelrod. "But I know that for communities of color, particularly for the black community, there has got to be a recognition that their needs are met. And we have to have candidates who are able to not only speak to them, but turn them out."
"There has to be an intentionality to turning them out. A lot of folks can do that. I'm one of those people," she said. "And I have proven it by turning out more people of color in an election than anyone in 2018 did. Not by race, but by raw number."
The Congressional Black Caucus PAC endorsed Joe Biden’s presidential bid on Monday, further cementing his support among the nation’s influential black political leadership.
The political action committee’s unanimous endorsement came on the heels of several key nods of support among caucus leadership and members, including civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis of Georgia and caucus Chairwoman Rep. Karen Bass of California. The PAC is the caucus’s separate campaign arm.
“There’s no question that Joe Biden is badly needed by this country,” CBC PAC Chairman Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York said in an interview with The Associated Press. “His leadership, his experience, his understanding on how to get things done and his ability to work and pull people together is needed now more than ever. We need someone that is a healer and not a divider, and that’s Joe Biden.”
Meeks said he believes Biden is well-suited to address the lasting impact of the pandemic and he’d like to see an agenda from him that specifically addresses racial disparities that have long plagued black Americans. Many of the nation’s front-line workers, who are among the most at risk, are black Americans and other people of color.
“There’s no question in my mind that there needs to be an agenda that pushes forward black America,” Meeks said. “Joe Biden has proven that he has the ability to get things done and that he has a vision to bring us together and have an agenda of significant importance for the black community.”
Former President Obama endorsed Joe Biden for president in a video from his home, Obama said that Biden is the best leader for the country during a health and economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president during a call with reporters on Monday and implored Americans to "vote like we never ever, ever voted before."
"It is my belief that we need Joe Biden now more than ever before," Lewis said.
"We need his voice. We need his leadership now more than ever before," he continued. "We need someone who is going to get our country on the right side of history, and help save our planet."
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) urged former Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday to pick a black woman as his running mate to "reward" them for loyalty to the Democratic Party if he is its presidential nominee.
Clyburn, who endorsed Biden ahead of his South Carolina primary win late last month, told NPR, "I really believe that we've reached a point in this country where African American women need to be rewarded for the loyalty that they've given to this party."
He named a number of black women who he thinks would be good choices to share a ticket with Biden, including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nominee and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams.
Clyburn also mentioned Democratic Reps. Marcia Fudge (Ohio), Val Demings (Fla.) and Karen Bass (Calif.) as potential choices, as well as Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Rep.Lucy McBath (GA 6th District) has endorsed Joe Biden for president. Read her statement below:
“As a two time breast cancer survivor and grieving mother who lost her child to gun violence, leadership is personal to me,” McBath said in a statement. “I know firsthand the painful experience when our laws fail to protect our families. I know how important it is that health insurance is accessible and affordable. And that is why I am endorsing Vice President Biden. He has a record of bringing people together and finding common-sense solutions, and I am proud to stand with him in this race.”
Sen. Cory Booker has endorsed Joe Biden for president. He released the following statement via Twitter:
The answer to hatred & division is to reignite our spirit of common purpose.
Joe Biden won’t only win - he’ll show there's more that unites us than divides us.
He’ll restore honor to the Oval Office and tackle our most pressing challenges.
That’s why I’m proud to endorse Joe.
Micheal Eric Dyson an academic (Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University), author, preacher, and radio host has endorsed Joe Biden for president. Watch his explanation of why he supports Biden below:
Many of my followers across the country have asked me who I’m supporting for the presidency. I’m proud to offer my endorsement of Vice President @JoeBiden as our nation’s next president. This video explains why. I hope you’ll join me in supporting this worthy man for president. pic.twitter.com/vYhbDPkF0H
— Michael Eric Dyson (@MichaelEDyson) March 8, 2020
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) has announced that she is endorsing Joe Biden for president.
"There is no one better prepared than Joe to steer our nation through these turbulent times, and restore truth, honor, and decency to the Oval Office. He is kind and endlessly caring, and he truly listens to the American people," Harris said in a statement.
"You can see in his eyes how he takes to heart the experiences of mothers and fathers working to make ends meet and worrying about whether their children can be safe in their classroom, or young people who fight tirelessly to tackle climate change as they ask for a fair shot at the future in front of them. And with a lifetime in public service, Joe has a proven track record of getting things done," she added.
“This is something we must reckon with and it is something I will have more to say about in the future," Harris wrote. "But we must rise to unite the party and country behind a candidate who reflects the decency and dignity of the American people and who can ultimately defeat Donald Trump."
Read more: Clyburn says Obama should make an endorsement before the Democratic convention
Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has endorsed Joe Biden for president.
In his endorsement Patrick gave his resaons for supporting Biden:
"At a time when our democracy is at risk, our economy is not working for many Americans, and our role in the world is unsteady, America needs a unifying and experienced leader, who can and wants to make life better for everyone everywhere. Joe Biden is that leader,"
"I am today proud to endorse him for the Democratic nomination for President," Patrick continued.
"I saw firsthand Joe's essential role in passing historic health care reform, saving the American auto industry and our country from another depression, leading our troops home from war, and championing historic civil rights and LGBTQ equality," Patrick said. He praised Biden's work on a number of other issues, and called the candidate a "genuinely caring and compassionate person."
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) announced Friday she is endorsing Joe Biden for president ahead of Illinois’s March 17 primary.
Lightfoot released the following statement via Twitter:
“Today, I’m proud to endorse Joe Biden for President. Joe is the best candidate to unite our country and move us past a presidency that has sought to divide us based on what we look like, what we believe, or who we love. He’s ready to lead and he’ll do it with passion and empathy,”
Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist has endorsed Joe Biden for president just ahead of the Michigan Democratic Primary.
Gilchrist released the following statement explaining his endorsement:
Leadership is about showing up, listening, and responding to make things happen, and Vice President Joe Biden has shown up for Michigan time after time. He has been there for Detroit, and the entire state of Michigan, as a friend and a leader. That is why I am endorsing Vice President Joe Biden to be our nominee for president.
“This is not a decision that I take or make lightly because the stakes are so high for our communities. Joe Biden is listening to a broad range of progressive, moderate, and other voices across the political spectrum. He will defeat Donald Trump’s dangerous, backwards-moving agenda by assembling a diverse, dynamic, and driven coalition that creates the conditions for people to thrive across Michigan and across the nation.
“He helped expand healthcare in Michigan, and will go further as president. Joe has helped expand access to the internet and public transit across our state, and he will go further as president. Joe Biden led President Obama’s efforts to protect and expand economic opportunity for working people by negotiating the deal that saved the auto industry, including tens of thousands of jobs in our state, and he will go further as president.
“The challenges that we are now confronting open the door to generational opportunities. This is our moment to replace Trump’s destruction and division with a unified, expansive vision of the future that we can build when we come together. I trust Joe Biden to lead with us into that future as our nominee and the next president.
Florida Democratic Rep. Val Demings on Thursday endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president, saying Biden "has been there in the trenches fighting for those things that are important to the American people."
"What I do know is America is always at its best when people have the opportunity to succeed," Demings told CNN's John Berman on "New Day." "And we have leaders in place who understand that. That's why I'm so proud this morning to endorse Joe Biden for the next president of the United States."
Demings did not rule out being Biden's running mate if she was asked and said she was "humbled" that her name has been raised as a potential add to the Democratic ticket.
Demings represents Florida's 10th Congressional District, and was Orlando's first female chief of police. She serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on Homeland Security.
[SOURCE: CNN]
Former Obama administration national security adviser and U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice on Monday endorsed Joe Biden for president.
Rice released the following statement via Twitter:
I worked very closely with Joe Biden for 8 years. He is smart, strategic and more experienced than any candidate in the field. No one is better prepared and more trusted by our allies to repair the incalculable damage Trump has done to our int'l standing and national security.
South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn gave a very emotional speech in which he often referenced his family as he endorsed for VP Joe Biden for president. Watch his speech below:
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, who wields enormous influence in his home state of South Carolina, is planning to endorse Joe Biden on Wednesday, multiple sources with knowledge of the Democrat’s plans told POLITICO.
The planned endorsement is expected three days ahead of the state's Saturday primary, giving Biden an important boost in a state that will likely determine the fate of his candidacy. Clyburn, the highest ranking African American in Congress, has long been close with Biden and has been open about his affinity for the former vice president during the Democratic primary.
“I will endorse Wednesday morning,” Clyburn said Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press. “I’m going to tell everybody who I’m going to vote for. I’m just not going to do it today.”
[SOURCE: The Hill]
Rep. Steven Horsford, Nevada's only black congressman has endorsed Joe Biden for president.
“He is ready to do the job of president on Day one,” Horsford said of Biden in a statement. “And Joe knows Nevada. He campaigned with and served alongside (former President) Barack Obama during the eight years of his successful, scandal-free presidency.”
Horsford credited Biden with helping to “kill” the Yucca Mountain project, which would have dumped nuclear waste from across the country in Nevada.
He also praised the former vice president’s work with Obama on civil rights, labor and the economy, as well as Biden’s work on passing the Affordable Care Act.
Horsford is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and was the first African American majority leader of the Nevada Senate from 2009 to 2013.
