Former Vice President Joesph R. Biden Jr., whose personal style of physical interaction with women has recently been scrutinized, released a video on Wednesday saying he would be more respectful of personal space.
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“Social norms are changing. I understand that, and I’ve heard what these women are saying. Politics to me has always been about making connections,” Mr. Biden tweeted, adding, “but I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future. That’s my responsibility and I will meet it.”
“I’ve always tried to make a human connection...I shake hands, I hug people, I grab men and women by the shoulders and say, ‘You can do this!’” said Mr. Biden. “And whether they’re women, men, young, old, it’s the way I’ve always been, it’s the way I’ve tried to show I care about them and I’m listening.”
Last Friday, Lucy Flores, a former Nevada lawmaker and candidate for lieutenant governor alleged that Mr. Biden’s manner of physical interaction with her made her uncomfortable. On Monday, a former Congressional aide said Mr. Biden touched her inappropriately in 2009.
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“Social norms have begun to change, they’ve shifted, and the boundaries of protecting personal space have been reset and I get it. I get it. I hear what they’re saying,” Mr. Biden said. But he did not offer an apology.
In parallel to the complaints, several women who knew Mr. Biden or had worked with him took to social media over the past few days in support of the former Vice President and his interactions with them.
“And over the years, knowing what I have been through, the things that I have faced, I’ve found that scores, if not hundreds of people have come up to me, and reached out for solace ... it’s just who I am,” he said.
Mr. Biden and his spokesperson had addressed the issue via statements over the last few days.
“People’s space is important to them, and what’s important is how they receive it and not necessarily how you intended it,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said on Tuesday. This was something Mr. Biden paid close attention to prior, the New York Times reported Biden aides as saying. Ms. Pelosi also said that it did not disqualify Mr. Biden from running for office in 2020.
Mr. Biden is expected to announce a bid for the White House next year at the end of this month, an expectation supported by the opening remark in his Wednesday video. “In the coming month I expect to be talking about a whole lot of issues, and I’ll always be direct with you.”