BREAKING NEWS: Connecticut woman says then-Vice President Joe Biden touched her inappropriately at a Greenwich fundraiser in 2009
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A Connecticut woman says Joe Biden touched her inappropriately and rubbed noses with her during a 2009 political fundraiser in Greenwich when he was vice president, drawing further scrutiny to the Democrat and his history of unwanted contact with women as he ponders a presidential run.
"It wasn't sexual, but he did grab me by the head," Amy Lappos told The Courant Monday. "He put his hand around my neck and pulled me in to rub noses with me. When he was pulling me in, I thought he was going to kiss me on the mouth."
Lappos posted about the alleged incident on the Facebook page of Connecticut Women in Politics Sunday in response to a similar account by former Nevada legislator Lucy Flores, which comes as Biden is considering a 2020 run for president. Flores accused Biden of kissing her on the back of her head in 2014, when she was a candidate for lieutenant governor.
Lappos, 43, who is now a freelance worker with nonprofit agencies, said she felt extremely uncomfortable when Biden approached her at the 2009 fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th, where she was volunteering. At the time, Lappos was a congressional aide to Himes, who she said was not in the room when the incident took place.
"I never filed a complaint, to be honest, because he was the vice president. I was a nobody," Lappos said. "There's absolutely a line of decency. There's a line of respect. Crossing that line is not grandfatherly. It's not cultural. It's not affection. It's sexism or misogyny."
A spokeswoman for Biden declined to respond to the allegations by Lappos and instead offered a statement that Biden issued Sunday about the Flores controversy.
"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," Biden said. "If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. 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."
Himes, who is in his sixth term as the congressman for southwestern Connecticut, said he first learned Monday about the allegation by Lappos and was not prepared to immediately comment.
The $1,000-per-plate luncheon with Biden took place at Oct. 5, 2009, at the Cliffdale Road home of affordable housing developer Ron Moelis. Future Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy were in attendance, as well as future Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
Biden spoke for about 20 minutes outside the home on a terrace, which was open to the media. Reporters were not allowed inside the house, which is where Lappos said the incident took place. Lappos appeared in three photos with Biden at the event, which she said were taken after his remarks and before the incident. She said she was in the kitchen with four to five other volunteers, when Biden moved toward her.
Bob Natt, a major contributor to Democrats and an Easton resident, said he and his wife had their photo taken with Biden and did not witness anything questionable.
“The entire photo session was in good fun and Joe did nothing inappropriate,” said Natt, who shared photos from the event with The Courant.
In her Facebook post, Lappos used the pseudonym Alice Paul, the suffragist who championed the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote and the Equal Rights Amendment, to discuss her exchange with Biden.
"Biden did something similar to me at a fundraiser in Greenwich when I was a congressional aide," Lappos wrote in her Facebook post. "I'm really disappointed to see this [Facebook] post ask 'thoughts' as if the grossness of men invading women's boundaries to sniff and touch is debatable. And shame on some of the women here excusing this as boys being boys or it's not as bad as Trump. I can speak from experience when I say it's an incredibly uncomfortable situation and not at all acceptable. We need to hold our men to the same standards we hold all men."
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Unless one or more of these women allege something along the line of Trumpish behavior (we know what that is), this should either come to a halt, or frankly, be ignored.
For better or worse Biden is 76 years old. If he was brought up to believe it is ok to place his hands on a womans shoulders as a (even momentary) show of affection , it is what it is. All things considered , it is not enough to disqualify him for the nomination, and certainly not for the presidency itself (given the current occupant).
Trump himself told Howard Stern that he used to enter teenage beauty contestants dressing rooms without knocking , asserting his "right" as the owner of the pageant.
If that didnt bother the voters, Biden putting his hands on someones shoulders should be a non starter.
While I believe this issue in reality is minor and should not prevent him from running, even you should admit the reaction is quite different than the reaction during the Kavanugh hearings where it was beat in that 'we must believe the women'.
And you are doing what? Helping?
Everything that Biden has done has been in the public eye.
But you do seed opinion pieces
What's that old saying …….
"Turn a "BLIND" eye ?
Joe's been a full blown "Groper" for quite some time now.
but.....he's a nice GROPER !
This one is but you have seeded opinion pieces
Are you implying that I ran a piece to protect Biden? I'll wait for an answer.
Strange how you turn a blind eye to Trump's pussy grabbing. How does that work?
Your wanting to talk about "Trump" now ?
I thought "Going back in time" was considered "Off Topic' on an article !
Who knew it wasn't …..NOW !
This is a hit piece, just like what happened with Kavanaugh, and actually, you are proving my point with my article.
Excuse me? I do believe my article was about Ms.Flores, not Biden. He just was the unhappy recipient of the attack. I am assuming you read it.
The title is incorrect Fish.
"Breaking News" is not in the title of the seed.
Nope, same rules apply to everyone right?
Perrie says it's OK so I too will gladly stick "BREAKING NEWS:" in every title of every seed I promote.
OK?
Brilliant tactic accusing someone of meta with a meta comment!
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"Trump himself told Howard Stern that he used to enter teenage beauty contestants dressing rooms without knocking , asserting his "right" as the owner of the pageant."
Right, because no private citizen has gone on the Stern show and made up some over the top claims just to impress Howard....
Did he tell Howard that Mexico would pay for the wall?
So you admit that trmp lies bigly
"Did he tell Howard that Mexico would pay for the wall?"
Most people who know the crisis going on at the border probably don't care who pays for it. If you have an emergency you don't stop to think how to pay the firemen to put out your house or the doctor in the ER.
But for what it's worth Trump yanking money from Central America might encourage Mexico to put up a little effort in stopping the invasion.
"So you admit that trmp lies bigly"
I admit everybody on Howard's show lies because he is a schock jock and outrageous stories are his bread and butter. That doesn't mean they're true stories.
The people of El Paso Texas tell a different story, I think I'll believe them over Trump and, his minions.
trmp can do no wrong in your eyes, can he?
How about that impromptu open mic moment during his Access Hollywood interview?
You give Trump a pass for this but, you think that Biden should be punished for less. Hypocrite much?
Let's try this,
I can't remember which channel I was watching last night, but they interviewed a recently retired 30 year CBP agent who said he remembers 1986 and 2000 very well,
when they apprehended & processed twice as many immigrants with 1/2 the budget and 1/3 of the agents they have now,
many of whom are always pictured standing around waiting for something.
Then they interviewed the 20 year Congressman Reyes who Beto beat and he said that the sky was not falling, El Paso is safe
and if Trump shuts the boarder, "he's nuts" because the damage will be equal to both countries.
"You give Trump a pass for this but, you think that Biden should be punished for less. Hypocrite much?"
I never said Biden should be punished for anything. I actually don't care what happens to him. Frankly I think the reaction is overblown, though I wouldn't call his familiar behavior wise in this day and age. I'm just enjoying Democrats not holding Biden or any other Dem to the same standard they hold Republicans.
As for the tape- there's a huge difference between a crude private conversation between two men and actually physical contact with women- especially when that person is VP. But I don't think either is a disqualifier.
I don't have to think about paying the firemen because where I live the fire department is a government socialist entity. The doctor in the ER is a different story and if Republicans get their way on healthcare I will probably be left out to die.
The left only pretends to be better than the right.
If the Dems had no options they would defend Biden the same way they defended Bill Clinton. But the Democratic Presidential candidate clown car is already overflowing, and the media is granting the far left lunatics the same type of coverage they did Trump. Biden is never going to make it to the starting gate.
I actually feel bad for Biden; but the fix is in- he wasn't wanted last go around, in favor of Hillary; when he could have defeated Trump. He definitely isn't wanted this go around either.
Some big time Democrat donors must want Biden out of the way really bad. Where do they keep finding these women to come forward?
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Those were actual True News Footage and News photos.
What, that's not allowed EITHER ?
Uber Nicey Nice Grandpa Joe "Can't be scrutinized ?
They were photo's being used out of context, one of them was Biden consoling his grandson at his sons funeral. Most of the time anymore the Right makes me sick. Defend the degenerate Trump but, run everyone else through the mud.
Just "One" of them ?
Any comment on the GIF I posted showing the "Little Girl" moving away from "Nice Joe" ?
Nice try, remember it was Trump who said he'd love to date his own daughter.....when she was sixteen.
Off Topic !
I swear the "Topic" was Joe Biden !
To be honest....The cast of the"VIEW" loved "Trump", including good ol' "JOY" !!!!!!!
Even the "View" understood it was a Joke !
No Kidding.
Do you have daughters?
I do. 2 of them.
My husband would never have said that. It's disgusting. Neither would my dad, who had 2 daughters.
That isn't funny. That is sick.
Tessy,
No he hasn't. But he has been inappropriate in what he has said and his family photos.
It is Me,
See that is being honest and nonpartisan. I call them as I see them.
Yep !
"That isn't funny."
The cast of "The View" thought it was. They're now "Main Stream"....so we're told !
Can I show news pictures of "Joe" actually copping a feel from "Stranger children" now, since the Trump Vid wasn't deleted ?
They laughed it off out of discomfort. Who says that about their daughter. Do you?
Where do you come up with this crap?? Got any proof? 'Course not - as usual.
Did they say that ?
The "Left" does have this "Thing" for "Woody Allen" !
Woody Allen is a disgusting pig. I have never seen a movie since he married his daughter.
Adopted Daughter. No "Blood" between them.
People, especially "Hollywood people", defend him to this day !
And on and On !
"When Donald Trump was watching his 16-year-old daughter Ivanka host the 1997 Miss Teen USA pageant, he turned to the then-Miss Universe and asked:
“Don’t you think my daughter’s hot? She’s hot, right?”
The link has the actual audio and the reaction from the show hosts which was universal disgust, one said he was sick and another said "What are you, Woody Allen?".
When asked what he and his daughter both consider their favorite things, Trump answered, “ I was going to say sex".
“Ivanka posing for Playboy would be really disappointing… not really. But it would depend on what was inside the magazine…I don’t think Ivanka would [do a nude shoot] inside the magazine, Although she does have a very nice figure. I’ve said that if Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her. ” - DJT
“You know who’s one of the great beauties of the world, according to everybody? And I helped create her. Ivanka. My daughter, Ivanka. She’s 6 feet tall, she’s got the best body .” DJT
“Yeah, she’s really something, and what a beauty, that one. If I weren’t happily married and, ya know, her father…. ” - DJT
“Is it wrong to be more sexually attracted to your own daughter than your wife?” - DJT
Yes Donald, it is, it really really is.
I'd take a hair sniff and a kiss on the back of the head any day over Trumps barely hidden expressions of incestuous carnal desires.
Galen: Nice try, remember it was Trump who said he'd love to date his own daughter.....when she was sixteen. 4.1.3
You: Please provide a direct quote of Trump saying those words, as you claim. 4.1.5
Me: "I’ve said that if Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.” DJT - 4.1.23
How exactly am I misconstruing what you asked for?
It's just wonderful.
He actually said that????
what a sick fuck
We are quickly heading to the simplest of solutions, there will be no further conversation or physical contact between boys and girls.
I myself am not a toucher by any stretch of the imagination, but if there are those willing to hang Biden out to dry over a trait that has been overt over the years (yes I know acceptance levels have changed) then we have certainly gone over the edge.
More "Covert" !
His "Touchy/Feely" always seems to happen at "Important" events, where he thinks no one is really paying attention.
It's just "Grandpa" after all.
Ya'all want to talk about Joe Biden touching someone, how about this,
I mean you guys really have an angel in Donald Trump.