Former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted Saturday he wanted to clarify comments he made to The Des Moines Register that he would defy a subpoena to testify in President Trump's Senate impeachment trial. But he didn't make clear whether he would testify.
Why it matters: Biden told the news outlet his testimony would take all of the focus off Trump, allowing the president would be able to get away with violating the Constitution. This is a move straight out of Trump's career playbook, according to Biden.
- During his interview with the Register, Biden said the media plays a role in taking the focus off of Trump because they would report on Biden's testimony for weeks afterward.
What's new: Following the publication of his comments to the Des Moines Register, Biden said on Twitter that he'd always complied with a lawful order in his 40 years in public life "and in my eight years as VP, my office — unlike Donald Trump and Mike Pence — cooperated with legitimate congressional oversight requests." He added:
The subpoenas should go to witnesses with testimony to offer to Trump’s shaking down the Ukraine government — they should go to the White House.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 28, 2019
Go deeper: 99% of the Trump campaign's TV ads this year discussed impeachment
