(CNN) Former Democratic Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams said Tuesday night that she believes the denial by former Vice President Joe Biden's campaign regarding onetime staffer Tara Reade's allegation that Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993.

"I believe that women deserve to be heard and I believe they need to be listened to, but I also believe that those allegations have to be investigated by credible sources," Abrams, who has made a public and direct pitch to be Biden's running mate, told CNN's Don Lemon on "CNN Tonight."

"The New York Times did a deep investigation and they found that the accusation was not credible. I believe Joe Biden."

Her comments come as Reade's allegation gains new attention while Biden -- now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee -- prepares to take on President Donald Trump in the general election. The Times report that Abrams referred to did not make a determination on whether Reade's allegation was credible.

In a statement previously provided to CNN, Biden's deputy campaign manager and communications director, Kate Bedingfield, denied Reade's allegation, calling it "untrue."

Read More