1993 episode of ‘Larry King Live’ goes missing from Google Play amid Biden sex assault controversy: Report

Google Play is facing accusations of a cover-up in response to a social media post claiming that the service had removed from its lineup a 1993 episode of Larry King Live during which the mother of Joe Biden sexual assault accuser Tara Reade allegedly called into the CNN show.

In a now-deleted image tweeted by a user identified as J.L. Hamilton, the broadcast appears to be missing in the chronological listing of episodes, Fox News reported. Fox confirmed the episode was no longer available, but could not verify when or why it had been removed from the catalog.

“Always listen to your mom”

After The Intercept first shared a transcript of the clip late last week, the Media Research Center posted video footage of the Aug. 11, 1993 call, Fox News reported.

Reade, who was a Biden Senate aide at the time of the alleged sexual assault, confirmed in a tweet that her mother was the caller, according to Fox, and said in an interview with the network that her mother told her to file a police report at the time of the alleged incident. She said she did not heed the advice at the time.

“Always listen to your mom,” Reade told Fox in what the outlet described as an “emotional” interview. “Always listen to your mom.”

CNN denies a cover-up

Addressing the matter in a tweet on Sunday, CNN communications spokesperson Matt Dornic rejected allegations that the network had removed anything from Google Play, Fox reported. He explained that the cable news outlet did not have a deal with Google’s content streaming service, going on to seek a correction and apology from Hamilton.

“Listings on the site are not sourced thru CNN,” Dornic wrote. “Click any episode, it will say ‘not available to watch.'”

This is B.S. CNN didn’t remove anything. We do not have a distro deal for LKL w/ Google Play. Listings on the site are not sourced thru CNN. Click any episode, it will say “not available to watch.” True for @foxnews programs too. I’ll wait 4 ur correction & apology. Screenshots: pic.twitter.com/Lb2ZJw3kcX

— Matt Dornic (@mdornic) April 26, 2020

Nevertheless, the reported omission of this episode has led some to speculate that Google Play is attempting to restrict access to the controversial call.

No specifics in the call

The 1993 clip does not specifically mention allegations of a sexual assault, which Reade says occurred that same year after a superior asked her to bring the then-senator a gym bag, according to The Intercept. Reade’s mother does mention “problems” with a “prominent senator” in the call, though.

To some, the call lends credence to the assertion that Biden did something that bothered Reade enough for her to tell her mother and quit working for him. Biden has faced few questions about the claim, which his campaign has vehemently denied.

“This absolutely did not happen,” a Biden campaign source said earlier this month, according to the BBC. Biden himself has not responded directly to the claim.

In the meantime, the absence of constant media coverage of the allegation seems to be evidence of a double standard by which the media treats Democrats with kid gloves while bringing out the knives for any Republican — Brett Kavanaugh and Donald Trump, for example — against whom similar accusations are made. When will the left start holding their own accountable?