Joe Biden campaign refunds donation from comedian Louis CK

Former vice-president Joe Biden has returned a donation from Louis CK.

Mr CK's $2,800 donation was not welcome by the Democratic hopeful, with a campaign spokesman saying it has since been refunded and would be reflected in the next report filed to the Federal Election Commission in May.

According to documents filed with the commission, the comedian donated to Mr Biden on 4 March, the day after the ex-vice president won more than a dozen states in Super Tuesday primaries on his way to securing the nomination.

Emails to Mr Biden's campaign and Mr CK were not immediately returned on Thursday.

The career of Mr CK, real name Louis Szekely, was brought to a halt in 2017 after The New York Times published sexual misconduct allegations from five women dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. Mr CK expressed remorse for his actions, saying he "tried to learn from them. And run from them. Now I'm aware of the extent of the impact of my actions".

Following the report, FX Networks dumped his shows, HBO removed his back catalogue, Netflix scrapped plans for a stand-up special, and his feature film I Love You, Daddy was cancelled.

The New York Times reported #MeToo complaints against Mr Biden after former aide, Tara Reade, came forward with allegations he sexually assaulted her during the early 1990s when he was a senator.

"There was no exchange, really, he just had me up against the wall," Ms Reade alleged in March.

"I remember him saying, first, as he was doing it 'Do you want to go somewhere else?' and then him saying to me, when I pulled away... he said 'Come on man, I heard you liked me,'" she said. "That phrase stayed with me."

Mr Biden, who has denied the allegations against him, became the presumptive presidential nominee when Bernie Sanders withdrew from the race on 8 April following the Wisconsin primary.

Mr Sanders' campaign did not immediately respond when asked if his campaign has been offering any refunds.