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Biden says no foreign business for family if he wins White House
WASHINGTON, Dec 9, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Democratic presidential hopeful Joe
Biden says his family members would not engage in any business abroad if he
were to win the White House next year, citing the activities of Donald
Trump’s children as problematic.
But the former vice president defended his son Hunter’s work on the board
of a Ukrainian gas company, which has become a focus for Republicans in the
impeachment probe swirling around Trump.
“They will not be engaged in any foreign business because of what’s
happened in this administration,” Biden said in an interview with “Axios on
HBO” that aired Sunday on the cable network.
“No one’s going to be seeking patents for things from China. No one’s
going to be engaged in that kind of thing,” he added.
“If you want to talk about problems, let’s talk about Trump’s family.”
During Trump’s administration, his daughter Ivanka — a senior White House
aide — obtained initial approval for a number of trademarks for her fashion
label, which has since closed.
The wide-ranging interview was part of a media blitz as the 77-year-old
looks to consolidate his position as the frontrunner in the Democratic Party
contest to take on Trump in 2020.
Biden was adamant in his defense of his son’s work at Burisma, which has
been the target of corruption accusations, though Hunter Biden has not been
personally accused of criminal wrongdoing.
He admitted, however, he didn’t know what Hunter’s responsibilities were
at Burisma.
“I don’t know what he was doing. I know he was on the board. I found out
he was on the board after he was on the board and that was it,” Biden said.
Asked whether he wanted to know more, Biden said, “No. Because I trust my
son.”
“You know there’s not one single bit of evidence, not one little tiny bit,
to say anything done was wrong. You know that,” a combative Biden added.
Democrats accuse Trump of linking military aid and a White House meeting
for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a request that Kiev investigate
Joe and Hunter Biden.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0840 hrs