A second woman - this one in Connecticut - has accused possible presidential candidate Joe Biden of inappropriately touching her. This comes after a former Nevada state lawmaker and candidate for lieutenant governor made similar accusations over the weekend.
Lucy Flores told CBS News in an interview that then Vice President Biden approached her from behind during a 2014 campaign event in Las Vegas.
"He like, smelled my hair and planted ... leaned in further and planted this slow kiss on the top of my head."
Flores originally made the allegation in an essay published Friday by thecut.com, writing, "I had never experienced anything so blatantly inappropriate and unnerving before."
In a new statement released Sunday, Biden says: "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. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention."
The episode, recounted by Democrat Lucy Flores, highlighted an aspect of Biden's persona that has been publicly known for years: the affectionate whispers, hugs and shoulder squeezes he has long doled out to women, often on camera and at high-profile public events. In a moment of national reckoning over sexual harassment and the treatment of women by powerful men.
Flores says the 2014 incident happened during a rally in Las Vegas.
On Monday, Republican Senator Ira Hansen, who once served in the Nevada Assembly with Flores, said he believes what she has to say.
"I served with Lucy and I found her to be very honest, so I suspect that what she says is completely accurate," says Hansen.
Meanwhile, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway is criticizing Biden.
Conway described Flores as "quite bold" to "go against the highest levels of her political party" with the allegations and said Biden now has a "big problem."
Conway tells "Fox News Sunday" that quote, "He calls it affection and handshakes. His party calls it completely inappropriate."
Conway suggested that Biden should consider apologizing to Flores.
Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) released this statement to us:
“While we don’t know the full details of this story, based on what I’ve read and heard, Ms. Flores said she felt uncomfortable and that's what matters. With any incident such as this, it’s critically important that we pause and evaluate what steps we can take as a society so that both women and men feel safe and can come forward.”
