According to the Russian-government-run news site Sputnik, Tara Reade, the former Senate aide who accused President Biden of sexual assault during his presidential campaign in 2020, announced on Tuesday that she has relocated to Russia and is pursuing citizenship there.

During a news conference with Sputnik, Ms. Reade expressed her desire to live in both the United States and Russia but stated that she may only reside in Russia due to the sense of protection and safety she feels there, DNYUZ reported.

In 2019, Ms. Reade, who briefly worked as a staff assistant in Mr. Biden’s Senate office in 1993, accused him of inappropriate touching. In 2020, around the time when Mr. Biden appeared likely to secure the Democratic nomination for president, she accused him of sexual assault. Mr. Biden adamantly denied these allegations.

During interviews with The New York Times in April 2020, no former Biden staff members were able to corroborate the details of Ms. Reade’s allegations or recall any similar behavior by Mr. Biden towards her or any other women. However, a friend of Ms. Reade claimed that she had disclosed the allegation’s specifics at the time.

In May 2020, prominent #MeToo era lawyer Douglas H. Wigdor dropped Ms. Reade as a client following increased scrutiny over her credibility, particularly after Antioch University disputed her claim of obtaining a bachelor’s degree from its Seattle campus.

Ms. Reade described her decision to move to Russia as a difficult one during her conversation with Sputnik but asserted that she believes she will be safer there.

Written by staff