Mark Kelly stands by Joe Biden endorsement amid Tara Reade's sexual assault claim

Democratic Senate candidate Mark Kelly is standing by his endorsement of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who faces a sexual assault allegation by his former Senate staffer Tara Reade.

Biden is scheduled to address the allegations by Reade for the first time Friday on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe." Reade’s assault allegation dates to 1993, when she worked for Biden. His campaign has denied her allegation.

Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut who is seeking to unseat incumbent Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz, said during a radio interview with KTAR-FM (92.3) this week that all accusers should be heard, echoing the sentiments of some other Biden supporters.

Kelly, who is married to former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., said the accusations do not have him rethinking his endorsement. The couple came to know Biden well after the 2011 mass shooting near Tucson in which Giffords and others were shot.

Read more: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/04/30/mark-kelly-joe-biden-endorsement-tara-reade-sexual-assault-allegation/3061886001/