Republicans weaponize Trump team attacks on Biden [View all]

[RandySF]

The Senate impeachment trial isn’t exactly good press for President Donald Trump. But Senate Republicans says it’s also hurting former Vice President and 2020 hopeful Joe Biden.

The second day of the president's opening arguments in the impeachment trial took a sharp turn, when Trump attorneys Pam Bondi and Eric Herschmann spent a significant portion of their time on the Senate floor arguing that Biden should be investigated for corruption.

Bondi primarily focused on Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and his role on the board of Ukrainian gas company Burisma while his father was vice president and in charge of Ukraine matters. Trump's team has presented no evidence that Biden used his role as vice president to benefit his son nor alleged anything improper other than the "appearance of a conflict."

But Senate Republicans used the concerted attack on Biden to raise questions about his political viability.

“Iowa caucuses are this next Monday evening and I’m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters, those Democratic caucus goers, will they be supporting vice president Biden at this point?” asked Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).

“I was watching Elizabeth [Warren] and Bernie [Sanders] and Michael [Bennet] and Amy [Klobuchar] and they were really eyes wide open during that part of it," said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), referring to the four senators vying for the Democratic nomination sitting as jurors in the trial. "I think it's going to be harmful. It can't be a positive. Certainly not in November if he's the nominee and I think even in terms of getting the nomination."




https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/27/biden-republicans-impeachment-107316