Pelosi defends Biden: 'Nobody ever came forward to say something' about accusation, besides accuser

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday defended presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden against sexual misconduct allegations by one of his former Senate staffers.

Pelosi was asked for her reaction to Democrat lawmakers who supported Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's accuser, saying they are standing by Biden as he faces the allegation from Tara Reade. The former Senate staffer has accused Biden of assaulting her on Capitol Hill in 1993.

"There's also due process and the fact that Joe Biden is Joe Biden," Pelosi said during a Capitol Hill press conference. "There have been statements from his former employees who ran his offices and the rest that there was never any record of this. There was never any record and that nobody ever came forward to say something about it apart from the principle involved." 

The California Democrat also said she was "proud" to support Biden and called her endorsement of him Monday "the happiest day for me this week."

"He's a person of great integrity, of great concern for the American people. He authored the Violence Against Women Act when he was the chair of the Judiciary Committee in the '90s. He has been an advocate for funding it all along since then and I believe that he will be a great president of United States," Pelosi continued.

Pelosi described Biden as "the personification of hope and optimism and authenticity for our country" and a person of great values.

"So I want to remove all doubt in anyone's mind. I have a great comfort level with the situation, as I see it, with all the respect in the world for any woman who comes forward and with all the highest regard for Joe Biden. And that's what I have to say about that," she said.

Pelosi cut off the reporter asking the question, saying, "I don't need a lecture or speech. Here's the thing. I have complete respect for the #MeToo movement. I have four daughters and one son and there's a lot of excitement around the idea that women will be heard and be listened to."

Reade has explained in interviews why she didn't come forward with the allegation until now, mentioning the impact it might have had on her family. Biden's campaign has denied Reade's account but he has not publicly addressed the issue directly.