A WOMAN who accused former Vice President Joe Biden of sexually harassing her in 1993 has filed a formal criminal complaint.

Biden's former staffer, Tara Reade, filed the complaint with police in Washington DC on Thursday.

4 A complaint has been filed to Washington, DC, police accusing former Vice President Joe Biden of sexual assault Credit: AFP or licensors

4 The complaint was filed by Biden's former staffer, Tara Reade, who said the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate sexually harassed her in 1993

News of the criminal filing was first reported by Business Insider, which claimed to have obtained a public incident report regarding her allegations.

Reade, who first made the claims about the former Vice President late last month, said she told police that Biden had assaulted her in a Senate corridor.

The former staffer claimed Biden shoved his hand under her skirt and penetrated her with his fingers.

The report was said to have been filed late on Thursday afternoon, and was filed with the sexual assault unit of Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police.

The statue of limitations for sexual assault has passed.

'SAFETY REASONS'

Reade tweeted that she filed the report for "safety reasons" after news of her criminal complaint emerged late Friday.

She wrote: "I filed a police report for safety reasons only. All crim stats beyond limitations. Gratitude for all who have stood by me."

The former staffer added: "I have been smeared and called vile names by Biden supporters.

"I was also accused of being called a Russian agent. I am not.

"I will continue to speak out."

FORMAL COMPLAINT

When Reade first made allegations as part of a podcast interview last month, she said Biden had assaulted her and touched her without consent when the two were alone as she delivered a gym bag.

Biden's team issued a blanket denial in response.

Kate Bedingfield, Biden's communications director said: "Women have a right to tell their story, and reporters have an obligation to rigorously vet those claims.

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"We encourage them to do so, because these accusations are false."

With Vermont Senator ending his run for president on Thursday, Biden looks almost certain to become the party's 2020 nominee for president.

Earlier this week, he and President Donald Trump were said to have had a "friendly" chat about the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped America.

4 Reade said the sexual assault happened when she was a staffer for Biden, pictured in 1993, in the Senate Credit: Getty Images - Getty

4 Reade previously spoke of the allegations in a podcast interview last month

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