Joe Biden testifying in President Trump’s impeachment trial is a nonstarter, the presidential candidate said.
The former vice president confirmed he would not comply with a subpoena from the Senate should one be issued during Trump’s trial.
Biden made the revelation to the editorial board of the Des Moines Register on Friday, telling the paper that grounds to call him were “specious” and that he would be reluctant to take the focus off what he said were the wrongdoings of Trump.
“You guys are going to cover for three weeks anything that I said. And [Trump’s] going to get away,” Biden told the paper, explaining the decision. “You guys buy into it all the time. Not a joke. … Think what it’s about. It’s all about what he does all the time, his entire career. Take the focus off. This guy violated the Constitution. He said it in the driveway of the White House. He acknowledged he asked for help.”
A Senate trial date has not been set but is expected sometime in January — coming potentially during or just before the Iowa caucus and other early primary states.
Biden is not alone in his refusal to go along with the impeachment proceedings. Trump has also steadfastly refused to comply with the inquiry as well, and has compared it to the Salem Witch Trials.