Former Vice President and potential 2020 contender Joe Biden publicly addressed his handling of Anita Hill’s sexual-misconduct allegations against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas during 1991 confirmation hearings. During an appearance Tuesday night at his foundation’s awards ceremony, Biden acknowledged he had regrets over the matter. “I wish I could’ve done something... To this day I regret I couldn’t give her the kind of hearing she deserved,” he reportedly said. “She paid a terrible price. She was abused during that hearing.” He said Hill “showed the courage of a lifetime talking about her experience being harassed by Clarence Thomas” and claimed the judiciary committee at that time “didn’t fully understand what the hell this was all about.” Biden, who chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee during Thomas’ hearings, has faced criticism for not doing enough to stop attacks on Hill at the time and not calling witnesses to support her testimony.
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