Tara Reade, who accused Joe Biden of sexual assault, stated her experience with The New York Times mirrors that of Lyndsey Fifield, an ex-girlfriend of Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner. Fifield criticized the Times' reporting on Platner, claiming it softened allegations and omitted corroborating evidence. Reade also accused Times reporter Lisa Lerer, who covered her Biden claims, of similar tactics.
Tara Reade, who accused Joe Biden of sexual assault, stated that her experience with The New York Times mirrors that of Lyndsey Fifield, an ex-girlfriend of Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner. Fifield, who spoke to the Times about her relationship with Platner, criticized the newspaper's report, questioning why it focused on her and omitted other women's accusations or corroborating sources. Reade drew parallels to her own experience in 2020, where she alleged that Times reporter Lisa Lerer, who covered her claims against Biden, assured her of a broader story that did not fully materialize and allegedly discouraged her from speaking to other journalists. Reade also noted that the Times' reporting on Fifield's professional history was extensive, similar to how Lerer reportedly examined Reade's background. The New York Times defended its reporting, asserting that the story accurately presented the accounts provided by the women and stood by its coverage.
The allegations and the reporting surrounding them raise questions about journalistic practices and the potential for political motivation in covering sensitive accusations against political figures, impacting both the Platner campaign and public trust in media.