US Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden called for the impeachment of his potential 2020 election foe Donald Trump for the first time on Wednesday, as a partisan fight over a congressional investigation of the Republican president deepened.
Mr Biden, who is at the centre of a controversy over Mr Trump's dealings with Ukraine that led congressional Democrats to open an impeachment inquiry, had so far refrained from making an outright plea for impeachment. He said in an opinion piece over the weekend that he would let Congress do its job on impeachment.
During a campaign stop in New Hampshire, the current Democratic front-runner to face Mr Trump in the presidential election, took the gloves off.
So pathetic to see Sleepy Joe Biden, who with his son, Hunter, and to the detriment of the American Taxpayer, has ripped off at least two countries for millions of dollars, calling for my impeachment - and I did nothing wrong. Joe’s Failing Campaign gave him no other choice!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2019
“With his words and his actions, President Trump has indicted himself. By obstructing justice, refusing to reply with a congressional inquiry, he’s already convicted himself,” Mr Biden said. “In full view of the world and the American people, Donald Trump has violated his oath of office, betrayed this nation and committed impeachable acts.”
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“To preserve our Constitution, our democracy, our basic integrity, he should be impeached.”
Mr Trump responded in real time on Twitter, using one of his nicknames for Mr Biden.
“So pathetic to see Sleepy Joe Biden, who with his son, Hunter, and to the detriment of the American Taxpayer, has ripped off at least two countries for millions of dollars, calling for my impeachment - and I did nothing wrong.”
The Democratic-led House of Representatives began impeachment proceedings against Trump last month over his attempts to have Ukraine’s president investigate Mr Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.
Despite Mr Trump’s allegations, made without providing evidence, that Mr Biden engaged in improper dealings in Ukraine, there are few signs the controversy has damaged the Democratic former vice president’s 2020 prospects.
Public opinion polls, including those taken by Reuters/Ipsos, have shown Mr Biden's support remaining relatively stable.
The White House on Tuesday declared its refusal to cooperate with the impeachment probe, describing it as a partisan attempt to hobble the president.
The three congressional committees leading the inquiry were working on final arrangements on Wednesday to interview a US intelligence officer who filed a whistleblower complaint that led to their investigation.
The State Department this week abruptly blocked the US ambassador to the European Union, who had been in touch with Ukrainian officials on Trump's behalf from speaking to the inquiry.
The investigation is focused on whether Mr Trump used almost $400 million (€364 million) in congressionally approved aid to Ukraine as leverage to pressure Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy to begin an investigation of the Bidens.
Mr Trump has denied wrongdoing and defended a July 25th phone call to Mr Zelenskiy.–Reuters