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AFP
Washington
Joe Biden accused Donald Trump Saturday of “an overwhelming abuse of power” and called for an investigation into accusations the US leader pressured his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate the presidential candidate’s son.
Biden’s allegations prompted a swift rebuke from Trump, who himself accuses the Democratic frontrunner of wrongdoing in Ukraine during his time as vice president under former president Barack Obama.
The back-and-forth recriminations stem from a Washington Post report stating a whistleblower complaint had been filed over Trump’s communications with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and a “promise” allegedly made by the US leader.
Trump allegedly pressured Zelensky to investigate possible corruption involving Biden and his son Hunter, who had worked with a Ukrainian natural gas company while his father was vice president.
Trump has urged media to “look into” Biden’s comments in early 2016 when the then US vice president said the Obama administration would freeze $1 billion in US loan guarantees unless Kiev fire its top prosecutor, who was looking into the gas company.
“This appears to be an overwhelming abuse of power, to get on the phone with a foreign leader who is looking for help from the United States and ask about me,” Biden told reporters on the campaign trail in the state of Iowa.
Washington
Joe Biden accused Donald Trump Saturday of “an overwhelming abuse of power” and called for an investigation into accusations the US leader pressured his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate the presidential candidate’s son.
Biden’s allegations prompted a swift rebuke from Trump, who himself accuses the Democratic frontrunner of wrongdoing in Ukraine during his time as vice president under former president Barack Obama.
The back-and-forth recriminations stem from a Washington Post report stating a whistleblower complaint had been filed over Trump’s communications with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and a “promise” allegedly made by the US leader.
Trump allegedly pressured Zelensky to investigate possible corruption involving Biden and his son Hunter, who had worked with a Ukrainian natural gas company while his father was vice president.
Trump has urged media to “look into” Biden’s comments in early 2016 when the then US vice president said the Obama administration would freeze $1 billion in US loan guarantees unless Kiev fire its top prosecutor, who was looking into the gas company.
“This appears to be an overwhelming abuse of power, to get on the phone with a foreign leader who is looking for help from the United States and ask about me,” Biden told reporters on the campaign trail in the state of Iowa.
