Reade wants Biden to withdraw from the presidential race

The former Senate aide who has accused Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in to drop out of the 2020 presidential race. 

“You should not be running on character for the president of the United States," the former aide, Tara Reade, to journalist Megyn Kelly, in a teaser clip Thursday of a longer interview.

When asked whether she wants Biden to withdraw from the race, she replied, "I wish he would, but he won't." She added that "it's a little late" for an apology from Biden

Court documents reported Thursday by the San Luis Obispo Tribune, which allege that Reade spoke of the sexual harassment she experienced in Biden's office to the man she was in a relationship with at the time.

Reade is speaking to news outlets about the perceived hypocrisy between something Biden has made a key part of his image and platform – women's issues, and in particular the proceedings surrounding title IX cases of sexual assault – and his actual behavior behind closed doors. 

"He holds himself up as a champion of women, but the fact remains that his personal life did not reflect his public life," Reade told The Tribune. 

“I want him to address it, and admit it, and modify his behavior, and step down,” she added.

Biden last week publicly, for the first time, said the allegations against him are false.

On Thursday, the Biden campaign again said the allegations against the candidate are false.

“Women must receive the benefit of the doubt. They must be able to come forward and share their stories without fear of retribution or harm – and we all have a responsibility to ensure that,” deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield said in a statement. “At the same time, we can never sacrifice the truth. And the truth is that these allegations are false and that the material that has been presented to back them up, under scrutiny, keeps proving their falsity.”

Also on Thursday, Reade hired attorney Douglas Wigdor, who also represented six victims of disgraced media mogul Harvey Weinstein, and a Fox News employee who accused Bill O'Reilly of harassment.

“Our representation of Ms. Reade has absolutely nothing to do with politics,” Wigdor said in a statement. “We have decided to take this matter on because every survivor has the right to competent counsel, and that is exactly what we will provide.”

“We have decided to take this matter on because every survivor has the right to competent counsel, and that is exactly what we will provide," said Wigdor in a statement.