WASHINGTON--Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, facing a growing swell of allegations that he has made women uncomfortable with his use of physical contact, made light of the controversy on Friday while continuing to lay the groundwork for a 2020 presidential run.
Speaking to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Washington, Biden joked that he “had permission” to hug the union’s male president, Lonnie Stephenson. The welcoming, mostly male audience responded with laughter and cheers.
Biden made a similar joke again after inviting some children of the attendees on stage and draping his arm around a boy. Biden's remarks were his first public comments since more than a half-dozen women aired their complaints that he had touched them inappropriately at political events.
In spite of the jokes, Biden told reporters after the event he is taking the complaints about his personal conduct seriously. But he stopped short of apologizing.
“The fact of the matter is I've made it clear that if I made anyone feel uncomfortable I feel badly about that," he said. "It was never my intention, ever, ever, ever.
"I'm sorry I didn't understand more. I'm not sorry for any of my intentions. I'm not sorry for anything that I have ever done - I've never been disrespectful intentionally, to a man or a woman."
He pledged the concerns would change how he campaigns should he run for president. Biden, who served eight years as vice president under President Donald Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, and decades as a U.S. senator, is expected to announce his plans later this month.
