'Tragedy Of His Own Making': Biden Calls For Congress To Initiate Impeachment If President Trump Stonewalls Investigation
WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS/CNN) -- Former Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday if President Donald Trump does not cooperate with Congress, he would leave lawmakers with "no choice" but to start impeachment proceedings. Biden delivered the statement at the Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington on Tuesday.
His statement came hours before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry against Trump.
"The actions of the Trump presidency revealed the dishonorable fact of the president's betrayal of the oath of office, betrayal of our national security and betrayal of the integrity of our elections," Pelosei said.
Trump is facing intense criticism over a July phone call during which, according to a person familiar with the matter, he pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Biden's son, Hunter.
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"We have a president who believes there is no limit to his power. We have a president who believes he can do anything and can get away with it. We have a president who believes he is above the law," Biden said.
The call between Trump and Zelensky, which took place one day after former special counsel Robert Mueller testified before Congress about Russian interference in U.S. elections, was also part of a whistleblower complaint submitted to the Intelligence Community Inspector General, the source added. The Wall Street Journal was first to report Trump pressured Zelensky during the July phone call.
Trump admitted Monday he delayed aid to Ukraine ahead of the call to Zelensky, giving the excuse that he was waiting for European nations to contribute their fair share of aid.
The Washington Post first reported Monday Trump had directed his acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to freeze nearly $400 million of U.S. military and security aid to Ukraine in the days before he spoke with Zelensky.
"This isn't a Democratic issue, or a Republican issue, it is a national issue, it is a security issue. It's time for this administration to stop stonewalling and provide this Congress with all the facts it is," Biden said.
Biden says if Trump fails to comply, Congress has no other choice but to begin impeachment proceedings.
"If the president does not comply with such a request to the Congress, if he continues to obstruct Congress and flaunt the law, Donald Trump will leave Congress, in my view no choice but to initiate impeachment. That will be a tragedy but a tragedy of his own making," Biden said.
Prior to Biden's statement, the president says he has authorized the release of the "fully declassified and unredacted transcript" of his phone conversation with Zelensky.
House Republicans reacted quickly to Pelosi's announcement.
"She cannot change the laws of this Congress. She cannot unilaterally decide we're in an impeachment inquiry," Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy said.
"You will see it was a very friendly and totally appropriate call," Trump tweeted.
Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey issued a statement Tuesday.
"As I have said repeatedly, a candidate for federal office seeking the assistance of a foreign government would be inappropriate. Tomorrow will shed more light on what transpired as President Trump has decided to release an unredacted transcript of his call with the Ukrainian president," Toomey said.
President Trump is set to meet with the Ukrainian president at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, followed by a 4 p.m. news conference.
CBS3's Alexandria Hoff contributed to this report.
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