The president, in a call on July 25 while military funds were being withheld, had asked Ukraine officials to investigate Hunter Biden’s past business connections in that country. The alleged quid pro quo request is now part of an impeachment inquiry being conducted by House Democrats.
Biden, speaking to reporters, suggested keeping the focus on what Trump claims is massive political corruption.
“Well, let’s talk about corruption,” Biden began. ”[Trump] is running the most corrupt government in the history of the United States of America, number one. Number two, he also is in a position where, as he talks about corruption, he is engaged in practices that, in fact, everyone around the world is looking and saying, ‘How in God’s name can this man be doing that while he’s president?’”
Biden then addressed the president directly:
“Mr. President, you want to talk about corruption. I’ve released 21 years of my tax returns. I entered as one of the poorest men in Congress, left one of the poorest men in government, in Congress and as vice president. I made no money while I was in there other than my salary.
“Mr. President, even Richard Nixon released his tax returns. Mr. President, release your tax returns or shut up.”
Biden then offered a theory on why the president has spent so much time going after him.
Biden then pointed the finger at Trump team members including personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
“As I said, Rudy Giuliani and the henchmen, and Trump’s lawyers, how many of these folks are in jail?” Biden asked. “These are the president’s people, for God’s sake! This is a corrupt, thoroughly corrupt outfit.”
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President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to Vice President Joe Biden during an event at the White House in 2017. Obama awarded Biden with the highest civilian honor, commemorating an "extraordinary man with an extraordinary career in public service."
Obama, right, speaks as Biden looks on in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Jan. 1, 2013.
Biden kisses his wife, Jill, at the U.S. Capitol after Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president on Jan. 20, 2009.
Biden is sworn in by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens during the inauguration of Obama as the 44th president on Jan. 20, 2009.
Jill and Joe Biden and Barack and Michelle Obama wave to the crowd at "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial" on Jan. 18th 2009.
Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Biden (D-Del.) greets potential supporters at a VFW hall on Dec. 2, 2007, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) takes the stage with Biden, his vice-presidential pick, on Aug. 23, 2008, in Springfield, Illinois.
U2 frontman Bono walks with Biden to a meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill in Washington on Oct. 3, 2007.
Biden, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, listens to opening remarks from General David Petraeus on Capitol Hill on Sept. 11, 2007, in Washington.
Biden, ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, during an interview in his office about the possibility of war with Iraq and Secretary of State Colin Powell's intelligence briefing of the United Nations Security Council on Feb. 5, 2003.
Biden talks with Lt. Gen. Daniel Zanini, commander of 8th Army chief of staff of UNC & USFK, left, and Lt. Gen. William Miller, UNC security battalion commander, on Aug. 11, 2001, at the border village of Panmunjom, South Korea.
Biden, right, questions John Ashcroft during his confirmation hearing on Jan. 16, 2001. To his left is Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), far left.
Gen. Colin Powell and Biden share a light moment during a photo op before a question-and-answer session with the press on Jan. 9, 2001.
Biden walks through the subway servicing Capitol Hill while the House Judiciary Committee considered impeaching President Bill Clinton on Dec. 16, 1998.
Biden stands with his family on the back of a train after announcing his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination on June 1, 1987.
Biden and his wife wave to the crowd after he announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination on June 1, 1987.
Biden at a Senate hearing on Feb. 1, 1986.
Biden with his mother, Jean, speaking on Nov. 7, 1978.
Biden in a "Bicentennial Minutes" segment, a series of nightly shorts commemorating the bicentennial of the American Revolution, which aired from 1974-1976, on Aug. 12, 1974.
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This week Boston Dynamics retired its well-known Atlas robot that was powered by hydraulics. Then today it unveiled its new Atlas robot, which is powered by electricity. The change might not seem like much, but TechCrunch's Brian Heater told the TechCrunch Minute that the now-deprecated hydraulics system was out of date.
Victor Wembanyama's rookie NBA season is finished. The San Antonio Spurs will sit him in Sunday's regular-season finale. Where does his first season rank among the league's greats?
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