The notoriously hands-on US Vice-President Joe Biden has renewed his claim as Washington's most grabby politician after cameras captured him in a close encounter with the wife of the new Defence Secretary.
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At a press conference for the swearing in of Ashton Carter as Secretary of Defence on Tuesday, Mr Biden gestured to Mr Carter's wife, Stephanie, to join them on stage.
He placed his hands on her shoulders as he stood behind her.
Mr Biden kept his hands on her shoulders for almost 30 seconds as her husband thanked the Vice-President for swearing him in.
At one point, Mr Biden bent down and whispered into Mrs Carter's ear in an almost-nuzzling gesture, which has since been shared across social media amid a storm of excoriating commentary and ridicule.
RT
@AboveTopSecret: Creepy
#JoeBiden What are you up to with Stephanie Carter, wife of the new Secretary of Defense?
pic.twitter.com/l2bAhStCE0 — Rob Stockman (@HngOver)
February 17, 2015
Joe Biden plays the part of that creepy old guy during a Sexual Harassment Panda Presentation.
#tcot
pic.twitter.com/HhNbcEFoNd — RightWired (@_donaldson)
February 17, 2015
It is not known what the Vice-President said to Mrs Carter, but she remained straight-faced throughout the encounter.
Described by The Washington Post as "the world's most powerful close talker", this is not Mr Biden's first foray into controversy for his overly intimate style.
In January, Mr Biden's name circulated in headlines alongside the word "creepy" as a photograph of him grasping the arm of Maggie Coons, daughter of Senator Chris Coons, and leaning in to kiss her on the head, went viral on social media.
This video is like Mike Tyson going for Evander Holyfield's ear
https://t.co/yVJ8r1GTUm — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro)
January 7, 2015
In December 2013, he was snapped in a Christmas photo with his hands around the waist of White House correspondent Amie Parnes.
The Biden pic we are talking about
#creepyuncle
pic.twitter.com/rE9gjRw2uJ — Greg Hill (@GregHillWAAF)
December 17, 2013
In 2012, Mr Biden was courting voters in an Ohio diner when he motioned for a biker to sit in a chair in front of him before pulling his signature whisper move, as her friends watched on in visible discomfort.
Never forget when Biden snuggled with a biker chick. Still the greatest photo I've ever seen.
pic.twitter.com/ShmmmCUuOu — Cullen Hawkins (@SirCullen)
December 8, 2014
Joe Biden is too creepy for 2016.
pic.twitter.com/Y6vPdr4F8w — Andrew Stiles (@AndrewStilesUSA)
February 17, 2015