Tara Reade now has legal representation. For what purpose? A defamation lawsuit (the statute of limitations having expired)? Not a chance.
Though #TaraReade calls the incident a “sexual assault” now, she did not regard it as a sexual assault at the time. (She told Katie Halper that it was her mother who finally persuaded her that it was a sexual assault!) 1/11
As Reade continues to elaborate her story (which she has never heretofore told in any detail even PRIVATELY), 2/11
it becomes increasingly improbable that (1) she didn’t think at the time she had been “assaulted” (which she has acknowledged) AND (2) that it occurred as she describes it now. 3/11
Reade has probably been hoping that other women would come forward and make similar allegations of sexual assault.
None have.
This allegation (of sudden, aggressive sexual violation and assault by Biden) STANDS ALONE — even now. 4/11
And that’s important.
No prosecutor would have accepted a case by her for sexual assault then, and none would do so now (quite apart from the statute of limitations). 5/11
Her case falls light years short of the required “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard of evidence (and that includes Lynda LaCasse’s testimony, for reasons I’ve given), so a defense attorney would have no problem shredding it. 6/11
Reade now has a lawyer to represent her (Douglas Wigdor).
The statute of limitations has long expired, so what do Reade and Wigdor have in mind? A defamation lawsuit? 7/11
No court, surely, would accept a defamation lawsuit by Reade — at least as the case stands now, with no other women making similar allegations (of non-consensual kissing or groping, much less vaginal penetration by the fingers). 8/11
Just to be clear about the strength of Reade’s case: contrast Biden and Reade with Trump and his numerous accusers.
For this, see the Wiki article (“Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations”) especially on E. Jean Carroll and Summer Zervos. 9/11
Courts have accepted defamation lawsuits by these two Trump accusers, but have only done so because it is conceivable that the accusers will be able to meet the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard. 10/11
This is not the case with Tara Reade and her allegation of sexual assault.
“Believe women” does not mean, or at least should not mean, believe the woman even if her story isn’t credible, is weak, or is full of inconsistencies.
And that describes Tara, for sure. 11/11
