For years, Joe Biden’s handsiness has been documented in photographs, captured on video, criticized and skewered by comedians. But it wasn’t until Friday, March 29, that someone who experienced it spoke out publicly.

That someone was Lucy Flores, a Democrat who served in the Nevada state assembly from 2010-2014. Flores wrote that Biden put his hands on her shoulders, “leaned further in and inhaled” her hair and then “proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back” of her head at a 2014 rally for her campaign for Lieutenant Governor.

Since Flores’ piece, six other women have come forward to describe how the former vice president made them feel uncomfortable through unwanted physical contact.

Biden responded in a statement, saying, "In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And not once – never – did I believe I act inappropriately.” He did, add “If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention... We have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will.”

Flores, 39, is no stranger to speaking out and taking on power. The daughter of Mexican immigrants and one of 13 children, Flores was 9 years old when her mother left the family. As a teenager, Flores was on juvenile parole, involved in gangs, and dropped out of high school. Thanks, in part, to a parole officer who erred on the side of compassion over cruelty, Flores was able to get her GED, go to college and eventually law school.

As an assembly woman, she worked on legislation protecting domestic violence victims from abusers, consumers from predatory practices, and students from draconian testing. During a debate about sex ed, Flores shared that she had had an abortion when she was 16. After making this revelation, Flores was subjected to death threats.

Flores has been smeared as politically motivated and mislabeled as a Sanders supporter. While she did endorse the Vermont senator in 2016 and later joined an organization founded by his supporters, she parted ways with it and has not endorsed Sanders this time around.

And while she’s adamant that what Biden did to her is not comparable to sexual assault, much less rape, some critics are accusing her of “cheapening” the #MeToo movement.

Katie Halper spoke to Flores for her podcast about her decision to come forward with her story and the limiting ways we talk about the #MeToo movement.

The interview, based on the podcast chat and follow up emails, has been edited and condensed for the sake of length and clarity.

Katie Halper: In a piece in NY Magazine’s The Cut, you have very bravely come forward to talk about an experience you had with Joe Biden. Can you explain what happened?

Lucy Flores: It was a campaign rally during my 2014 run for Lieutenant Governor a couple days before the election. [Biden] reached out to us and was interested in helping the campaign and other Democrats in the state. Obviously I was grateful that he was able to come out.

I [went] into a holding room where all of the speakers [were]...Joe Biden was behind me and all of a sudden, I feel his hands on my shoulders. I was like that's weird, the Vice President of the United States is touching me.