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March 27, 2019

Joe Biden Says He Regrets Role in Treatment of Anita Hill in 1991
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Former Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday he regretted his role in
confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in 1991.
During the hearings, Anita Hill-an African-American woman who worked as
a lawyer for Clarence Thomas-was questioned by an all-male, all-white
Senate Judiciary Committee over her allegations that Thomas had sexually
harassed her in the workplace. Speaking at a ceremony for the Biden
Courage Awards in New York Tuesday evening, Joe Biden condemned "a white
man's culture" for not taking Hill's claims seriously.

Joe Biden: "We knew a lot less about the extent of harassment back then,
over 30 years ago. But she paid a terrible price. She was abused through
the hearing. She was taken advantage of. Her reputation was attacked. I
wish I could have done something."

Biden's comments drew widespread condemnation, with many social media
commentators noting Biden was chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee at
the time of Anita Hill's testimony. Joe Biden has launched a new
political action committee ahead of a widely expected announcement he'll
seek the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 2020. It's not
clear whether he's ever personally apologized to Anita Hill.


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