The woman who accused Joe Biden of sexual assault in the 2020 presidential race has appeared in Moscow and asked Vladimir Putin for Russian citizenship.
Speaking from Moscow, Tara Reade claimed her life was in danger and she faced possible jail after being branded a Russian agent following her accusations against Mr Biden.
Sitting alongside Maria Butina, a Russian politician and former spy who was arrested and imprisoned in Washington in 2018, Ms Reade said: “I really appreciate Maria and everyone who gave me [protection] at a time when it was very difficult to know if I am safe or not.
“I just didn’t want to go home and get into a cage or be killed, which are basically my two choices.”
The 59-year-old said she had “always loved Russia” and did not see “Russia as an enemy”.
She said she had a “big” request and added: “I would like to apply for citizenship in Russia, with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin.”
Ms Butina, who has tried to infiltrate US conservative groups to promote the Kremlin’s agenda, has promised to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to “fast-track” his citizenship, local media reported.
Ms Reade made headlines in early 2020 after claiming Mr Biden sexually assaulted her in a Capitol Hill hallway in August 1993, when she was 29.
It came as Mr Biden prepared his presidential campaign against Donald Trump, who has also been accused of sexual abuse and rape.
Mr. Biden rejected his request.
“It’s not true. I say unequivocally that it never, ever happened,” he said.
Ms Reade said she decided to stay in Russia after an unnamed Republican politician told her she was in physical danger.
She told the Sputnik media group that she arrived in Russia on vacation.
However, she said: “When I got off the plane in Moscow, for the first time in a very long time, I felt safe, and I felt heard and respected.”
“I promise to be a good citizen,” she said, adding that she also wanted to keep her US citizenship.
“I felt that during [the 2024] the election is brewing and there is so much at stake, i’m almost better off here and i’m just safe. My dream is to live in both places, but I may only live in this place and that’s fine with me.
Ms Reade claimed to have filed a complaint after the alleged incident involving Mr Biden. No record of it was found.
But her ex-husband mentioned she complained of sexual harassment while working in Mr Biden’s office in a 1996 court filing.
It is unclear whether his allegations have ever been formally investigated.
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