Joe Biden _ whose family is at the center of why the House is in full-blown impeachment proceedings _ came out in favor of President Donald Trump's removal from office for the first time on Wednesday.
The former vice president's dramatic announcement comes ahead of next week's fourth Democratic presidential debate, at which Trump's potential impeachment is expected to loom large.
"Donald Trump has violated his oath of office, betrayed this nation and committed impeachable acts," Biden said during a campaign event in Rochester, N.H. "He should be impeached."
Trump was quick to hit back in a fact-challenged tweet.
"So pathetic to see Sleepy Joe Biden, who with his son, Hunter, and to the detriment of the American Taxpayer, has ripped off at least two countries for millions of dollars, calling for my impeachment _ and I did nothing wrong," the president posted less than five minutes after Biden's announcement. "Joe's Failing Campaign gave him no other choice."
The rapidly developing House impeachment probe was sparked last month amid revelations that Trump and several of his allies tried to pressure Ukrainian officials to investigate Biden over unsubstantiated claims that he used his office to protect Hunter Biden from being charged with corruption crimes in the eastern European country.
Since the inception of the impeachment inquiry, Trump has publicly suggested that China should also investigate the Bidens over similarly dubious claims about corruption.
There's no evidence to support Trump's allegations about Biden.
