Biden Lauds Oregon Senator Who Resigned Amid Sexual Harassment Claims

Friday, September 19, 2014

By Shelby Sebens, GoLocalPDX Reporter

Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden praises a former Oregon Senator who resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal.

During a speech to women on Friday, US Vice President Joe Biden praised former U.S. Senator Bob Packwood, the Oregon Senator who resigned in 1995 amid numerous accusations of sexual harassment, Business Insider reported.

During a Democratic National Committee's Women’s Leadership Forum meeting, Vice President Biden held up Packwood as an example of Republicans who previously championed issues now mostly favored by Democrats, such as raising the minimum wage.

After accusations of sexual harassment from multiple women, the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to recommend Packwood be expelled. He resigned before that could happen.

The comment caused a stir on social media and is Biden’s second goof this week after being blasted by the Anti-Defamation League for referring to military members as “shylocks," according to Yahoo News.

Packwood served in the U.S. Senate from 1969 until his resignation. To see a video clip of Biden's comment, click here.