Biden: I won’t comply with subpoena to testify at Senate impeachment trial
Biden is saying he will obstruct Congress by not complying with a subpoena. Isn’t that supposedly why Trump is being impeached?
There is no indication that Mitch McConnell and his Republican majority in the Senate are going to let the impeachment trial turn into a wide-ranging free-for-all.
Democrats desperately want to try to rescue their woefully inadequate impeachment case by locating evidence outside the record on which impeachment was based. At the same time, some Republicans wish for the day they can get Joe Biden, Adam Schiff and other Democrats on the witness stand.
Nancy Pelosi is playing games by holding back the articles of impeachment, and there is a good argument that Republicans should not play her waiting game and should just call a trial and get it done with on the basis of the record from the House. Kimberley Strassel writes, Pelosi’s Rolling Impeachment:
And as long as the Senate doesn’t hold a trial, Democrats can add additional “crimes” to their case against the president. House lawyers this week argued in federal court that former White House counsel Don McGahn must be forced to testify to the House. They told the court the House may “recommend new articles of impeachment” if Mr. McGahn’s testimony included evidence that the president obstructed special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
How long will this charade go on? As long as Democrats can get away with it. Given their impeachment irregularities to date, it’s not hard to imagine Mrs. Pelosi sitting on her impeachment articles through next fall’s election campaign. That would deny Mr. Trump the ability to say he’d been acquitted, even as it assured a constant stream of negative, ever-evolving impeachment coverage.
The risk to Democrats is that the public loses tolerance for a cynical partisan ploy that makes a mockery of Congress’s constitutional duty. But Ms. Pelosi knows the press will dutifully peddle her “fairness” line, and at least for now she can use the delay to energize her base and further damage the president. If the public tide shifts, she can always change course.
Senate Republicans should schedule a trial immediately. Mr. McConnell has a majority to set the rules, and he has history, the Constitution and fairness on his side. Republicans also have a duty to spare the nation from the damaging precedent Mrs. Pelosi is setting. They can end the farce of endless, rolling, partisan impeachment.
But it’s still fun to think of Adam Schiff on the witness stand being grilled under oath on national TV about everything he has done with regard to Trump, including whether he or his staff leaked to the media and colluded with the so-called ‘whistleblower.’
It likewise would be fun to have Joe and Hunter Biden on the stand to demonstrate why it was in the national interest, not just Trump’s political interest, to seek an investigation as to what appears to be payola to Biden’s son in an attempt to influence the then-sitting Vice President.
So, playing along with this thought experiment, things could get really interesting if Biden, as he previously stated in early December, would refuse to honor a Senate trial subpoena:
Joe Biden is dismissing calls from President Trump and his allies that Biden testify during an impeachment trial in the Senate, saying any effort to compel his testimony should be viewed as part of a strategy to distract from the president’s conduct.
“No, I’m not going to let you take the eye off the ball here. Everybody knows what this is about,” the former vice president told NPR when asked whether he would cooperate with a subpoena. “This is a Trump gambit he plays. Whenever he’s in trouble he tries to find someone else to divert attention to.”
Asked a second time whether he would comply with a subpoena, Biden said: “No, I will not yield to what everybody is looking for here. And that is to take the eye off the ball.” He added, “No one has … one scintilla of evidence that I did anything other than do my job for America as well as anybody could have done it.”
Biden repeated that vow to defy a trial subpoena in an interview today with the Des Moines Register. Johnny Verhovek, an ABC News reporter who watched the interview, tweeted:
In @DMRegister ed board intv today @JoeBiden re-iterated that will not comply w/ a subpoena in Senate impeachment trail
“Correct. And the reason I wouldn’t is because it’s all designed to deal with Trump doing what he’s done his whole life, trying to take the focus off him.”
Asked if defying a subpoena puts him above the law, Biden said: “The grounds for them to call me would be overwhelmingly specious, but so, I don’t anticipate that happening anyway. But what it would do if I went — let’s say I voluntarily just said, let me go make my case…
Asked if defying a subpoena puts him above the law, Biden said: "The grounds for them to call me would be overwhelmingly specious, but so, I don't anticipate that happening anyway. But what it would do if I went — let's say I voluntarily just said, let me go make my case…
— Johnny Verhovek (@JTHVerhovek) December 27, 2019
(added) The Des Moines Register reports:
Former Vice President Joe Biden confirmed Friday he would not comply with a subpoena to testify in a Senate trial of President Donald Trump….
Testifying before the Senate on the matter would take attention away from Trump and the allegations against him, Biden said. Not even that “thug” Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney and former New York City mayor, has accused Biden of doing anything but his job, the former vice president said. Biden also said any attempt to subpoena him would be on “specious” grounds.
Biden said even if he volunteered to testify in an attempt to clear the air, it would create a media narrative that would let Trump off the hook.
“What are you going to cover?” Biden said to Register Executive Editor Carol Hunter in response to a question. “You guys are going to cover for three weeks anything that I said. And (Trump’s) going to get away. 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.”
Think about this. Biden is saying he will obstruct Congress by not complying with a subpoena. Isn’t that supposedly why Trump is being impeached? At least Trump has the legal defense of separation of powers, Biden has nothing.
And he’s doing so to gain political advantage in a presidential election, putting his own personal political interest ahead of the national interest.
This all sounds so familiar.
UPDATE
After brutal mockery, Biden kinda-sorta walks back refusal to obey Senate impeachment trial subpoena
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Biden actually thinks he’s important.
He is one of the known links in this multitrimester enterprise. Some links are no longer viable. There is an investigation in progress to uncover and establish the missing links and those hiding in darkness at the Twilight fringe.
That is what Dr. Biden tells him. LOL!
Phony “Doctor” (gag) Jill really knows how to churn out the drivel. Here are two of the things that Joe has pressured numbskull-willing-to-lose-money publishers to put on the shelves.
First, there’s “The Things That Matter In Life: The Collected Words of Dr. Jill Biden” (see, she got that undeserved title of Doctor in there again). What’s most interesting about this book is the chapter titled “Correcting Errant Behavior in Male Children is Not One of the Things That Matter in Life.”
But the Magic of Jill doesn’t end there. Today, Jill the Phony (she is NOT a real doctor) has now (2019) written an autobiography, Where the Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself, documenting her privileged life. As in her earlier advice-for-life book there’s another chapter, again written with Joe, titled “Building a Family Also Includes Encouraging Drug-Addled Children to Pursue Their Highs and Their Dreams.”
Interviewed after the publishing of this book, Jill was quoted, “Why, no, there’s no end to my self-adulation.”
My take is that she’s as desperate to get into the WH as Plugs; Number One Observatory Circle (the VP residence) not good enough for her. She’d get to be First Lady and all that comes with it. She might even take up Jackie’s pill box hats.
Glammed-Up Jill is an accurate descriptor; she’s all show, no substance. Like Joe. Because of former her looks (God-given, not the result of her efforts) she tried her hand at modeling (deep, meaningful stuff, if you peons don’t understand important things), indicating that style and looks are all-important to her. This would explain why Joe has become all-Hollywood (the hair plugs, the chi-chi clothing, the teeth, the Botox, the aviator sunglasses, the Amani shirts with two undone buttons).
Playing second fiddle to Chewbacca for all those years has apparently left some serious scars.
Hell, it’s HER TURN now . . . by any means.
You mean it’s “Quackers Biden’s” turn?
Sleepy Joe (AKA Plugs) thinks? Who knew?
Tries to come off as the hot-ticket tough guy.
Succeeds in coming off as the biggest loser.
He’s a wiseguy who deals in quid pro Joes.
Withdraw their liberal license to indulge in games, shenanigans, and delinquency, and proceed with a trial based on facts, not truths. And when the impeachment is confirmed to have never been viable, abort the process and restore government function in the light. Plan the individuals, parties, and interests, foreign and domestic, public and private, who colluded to sabotage our representative constitutional republic with witch hunts and warlock trials over 16 trimesters.
The situation is already ripe for acquittal. The Articles of Impeachment are insufficient as a matter of law, because they fail to state an impeachable offense, that is, bribery, treason, or a high crime or misdemeanor by the President.
Considering that the House never voted to take up impeachment, Nancy did not have authority to declare an impeachment “proceeding.” Further, the blatant procedural failures, including testimony in secret with selective leaks, refusal to release all of the transcripts, refusal to allow the President to be represented, refusal to allow Republicans equal time, and refusal to allow Republicans to call witnesses and ask the questions they wanted, resulted in an unacceptably unfair proceeding on its face.
Mitch gave the perfect answer, by confirming another 12 judges the day the House voted on the Articles.
McConnell would be well within his own authority to refuse to take up the Articles, hold a vote on whether the Articles state a triable claim for impeachment, or hold a vote on acquittal.
It is for reasons like this (total hypocrisy and no morals) and his abusive behavior with woman/children that I plan to vote for Joe Biden in the DNC primaries. Unless another candidate looks like a worse choice and a bigger loser in the 2020 general election then I will vote for them. This DNC primary vote will be my gift to the Democraps. Maybe if Joe wins but not enough votes, old Hitlery will be tempted to push for a brokered convention.
No one has called me yet but my poll votes will be for the biggest DNC loser too. I doubt though we can get the Democrats so complacent again that they don’t bother to vote if it rains. I am an Independent but for 2020 my votes will be straight anti-Democrat.
I would suggest the current and a couple of former Ukraine Prosecutor Generals as witnesses
Would be interesting to see how a subpoena would be enforced by Senate…under current rules:
” The Senate discussed on an earlier occasion how the
Sergeant at Arms might enforce its subpena. In 1868 during the
trial of Andrew Johnson, there was a discussion of the power of
the Sergeant at Arms to summon a posse comitatus 247 and
finally the following wording was adopted regarding the powers
of the Sergeant at Arms:
—————————————————————————
247 March 2, 1868, 40-2, Congressional Globe, pp. 1526-33.
—————————————————————————
. . . And the Sergeant at Arms, under the direction
of the Senate, may employ such aid and assistance as
may be necessary to enforce, execute, and carry into
effect the lawful orders, mandates, writs, and precepts
of the Senate.248
What this impeachment is, is basically a warrant to search everything Trump and if anything is found that looks illegal then throw it into the impeachment pie! Imagine a cop coming to your front door with a warrant to look for anything illegal in your home! That’s what these slimy Dems are doing. This is so un-American/un-Constitutional that it is hard to imagine that in a free country they could get away with it.
Does the Senate not have the power to compel testimony?
In the context of a presidential trial for crime, I believe its authority is near unlimited. Now that having been said, they only have the Capital Police to take individuals into custody and to raid offices, including the FBI. But McConnell would have an ally in Pence.
Taking Hunter out of service, and recovering ill-gotten assets, will be sufficient.
And the reason I wouldn’t is because it’s all designed to deal with Trump doing what he’s done his whole life, trying to take the focus off him.
This may be the absolutely least-perceptive comment I’ve ever read about DJT.
Forgive me but, Shift should be compelled to testify. He is after all the lead “investigator” and author of the “Shift impeachment memos” is he not. And the “wistle blower” should also be compelled.
I know this a political trial and the President isn’t entitled to a fair trial. (Sarcasm of course)
One day I would like to see Democrats held accountable for their conduct and crimes. But I won’t hold my breath.
Hold the trial, exonerate PDJT. Then hold Senate hearings into the charges and call quid pro joe and his drug addled kid along with a horde of fbi agents and the fake whistle blower. Put all of them under oath. Then send to DOJ any inconsistencies in testimony. Pressure the heck out of the bottom feeders to climb the hill to joe, the kid and others.
Bonus points for getting eric holder in jail.
I want Hillary!
Have federal agents conduct the interrogation so those who lie will commit a federal crime.
He is confident to the utmost degree that the dual standards of the American justice system will protect him and his family.
Slow Joe Biden and Pile of Schiff are petty little men, not much more than punch lines in Pelosi’s rolling comedy club. More Grey Goose please!
Biden is simply notifying those who hold power over him – Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that he will not tell what he knows about their egregious corruption!!!
Down thumb – reply error …AGAIN!!!!
Is Joe a better asset on this side or the other when talking about the here and now?
Are the Clintons the apex of the Deep State or are there higher players? Epstein did not have the full power of mutually assured destruction that shields the top tier.
Joe is playing from power or a cocky rodent trapped in a corner?
Pathetic watching so many die hard liberals fall on their swords to protect the most evil, devious, deceptive, and crooked politician in American history, Hillary Clinton. Tragically, they all know they’d better tow the line or they’ll be Arkansacided.
Someone remind Cocaine Mitch that it’s not waterboarding if you use diesel.
I’m pretty sure that means Biden goes to prison, and he goes bankrupt. Isn’t that the way these things work?
“It likewise would be fun to have Joe and Hunter Biden on the stand to demonstrate why it was in the national interest, not just Trump’s political interest, to seek an investigation as to what appears to be payola to Biden’s son in an attempt to influence the then-sitting Vice President.”
………..
Bravo Professor Jacobson. Other than the fact that they are the Party Of Stupid, I do not understand why Republicans have not been hammering away on this point throughout instead of being on the defensive about whether there was a quid pro quo. Let the Democrats argue that running for President gives one immunity from investigation for obvious corruption. ( Yes, I realize that Hillary Clinton was given immunity from prosecution when she was the D nominee. That is not a precedent that should be accepted.)
“Correct. And the reason I wouldn’t is because it’s all designed to deal with Trump doing what he’s done his whole life, trying to take the focus off him.”
Yeah, that describes Trump. Seriously. He’s been avoiding being the center of attention his entire life.
More accurately, Trump has been good at presenting himself as a leader fighting off liars and fools, the man in the center of a sea of silly cartoon characters.
Winning!!!
Weren’t we told, no one is above the law
“This is a Trump gambit he plays. Whenever he’s in trouble he tries to find someone else to divert attention to.”
Project much? Isn’t this what “the Resistance,” Russia, Russia, Russia, and the impeachment all about – an attempt to distract the American people from the crimes of the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton?
If Joe does defy a Senate subpoena, upon election (should he become president) he will be instantly impeachable for obstruction. McConnell should subpoena him just so Biden can ignore it. Then Mitch could point out to the Dems in the Senate that if they convict DJT for obstruction, they will have established a precedent that will immediately threaten Biden should he become president. Should they not back down, that would probably destroy Biden’s presidential aspirations entirely. How could they nominate someone who had already committed an admitted impeachable offense? (I know, I know – I’m talking about Democrats here. They believe they can do anything with impunity. And they generally can, so long as the media covers for them.)
So let’s see. Pelosi is actively abusing her power, obstructing Justice/Congress in her attempt to get a quid pro quo deal from McConnell to influence the Senate Trial. And now Quid Pro Quo Joe states he’ll be obstructing justice/Congress by not complying with any subpoenas the Senate might issue in the impeachment trial. In other words, both are doing exactly what they accuse Pres. Trump of doing.
Will the fun never cease? 😛
Point: Joe refusing to testify to Congress is grounds (under the New Rules) for immediate impeachment (Obstruction of Congress) the minute he takes the oath of office in 2021. And if the Dems pull any of the (censored) they plan by not sending Trump’s impeachment to the Senate for months and claiming he can’t (fill in Presidential duty here) until it is resolved, the Republicans can merely repeat the words of their peers and proceed to sauce the goose the same way they sauced the gander.
Let the Senate change their rules so they can start the trial without the articles of impeachment and acquit Trump if they don’t show up within a week.
No. Pelosi is playing this delay for political points, and she is *losing* every day. Why give her free points by trying to push the issue. Far better to sit back and watch the Democrat party burn from their own arsonists.
The guy wants to complain about Trumps obstruction of congress … and when it’s his turn to step up … he wants to do the same thing. What a looser hypocrite.