# Should Joe Biden Testify During the Impeachment Hearings? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 29, 2019, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540 "2019-12-29T09:13:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wrenching\_Spanners](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecb155/32.png) [@Wrenching\_Spanners](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrenching_Spanners)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/21 "2019-12-29T13:40:58Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Of _course_ Biden shouldn’t be called to testify, because any testimony he could give would be completely irrelevant. But that’s not the question here. > > Because, of _course_ the Republicans will call him to testify, anyway. > > The question is, given that the Republicans will call him to testify, what should Biden do? > > If Biden says “I’m refusing to testify because my testimony is irrelevant”, then every Republican ever called to testify will use that exact same excuse, even though it doesn’t apply to them. > > What he needs to do is to show up, and then to answer every question with “My testimony is irrelevant to that question”, or “That question is irrelevant to the issue at trial here”. Or maybe Biden should just give honest answers. That’s generally what we expect of witnesses, right? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/22 "2019-12-29T14:01:10Z")
If all of the otherwise substantive witnesses showed up and testified, then it would be perfectly normal to call Joe or even Hunter. But they’re not. The Democrats shouldn’t play that game. I’d say I’d agree with the Bidens testifying if 45 himself, and Rudy, and all the other witnesses that the White House is stonewalling, show up and personally testify, including examination without limits by the prosecuter (of course, they can answer all questions after conferring with their lawyer and invoking the 5th on pretty much everything, but it still will result in the optics of having to defend themselves). And I’d have them testify _after_ those witnesses because Trump and McConnell are liars. Heck, maybe you might see some Republican Senators chew out Trump if he gets up on the stand and refuses to answer the questions, even though they would ultimately vote to acquit. I guess how much of an open mic is allowed would depend on the rules of the trial. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/23 "2019-12-29T14:31:53Z")
So, any _other_ witnesses? Bolton, perhaps? Taylor, Vindman, Yavonovich, Sondland? Persons far more directly connected to the question. Any of those? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/24 "2019-12-29T14:32:35Z")
OP should be more concerned about getting Rudy to testify. But he’s not. I wonder why… ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/25 "2019-12-29T14:53:08Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Let me put it this way. > > Loser Donald has been impeached on two charges; > > 1. That he attempted to solicit the government of Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election on his behalf > > 2. That he misused the powers of the presidency to obstruct Congress’ investigation of the first charge > > For what reason should Joe Biden be called to testify as to the facts of either of these charges? If both the Bidens are truly innocent, wouldn’t direct testimony to that fact make point #1 even more damaging? It’s astounding to me how so many anti-Trump people in this thread seem bound and determined to help out Trump’s defense. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/26 "2019-12-29T14:59:41Z")
Innocent of what? What charge? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/27 "2019-12-29T15:04:11Z")
If the Senate calls witnesses, won’t that delay the Absolute Vindication and Total Innocence Ceremony? ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/28 "2019-12-29T15:16:18Z")
I realize this isn’t a trial, but in a trial the prosecution presents its case first. So I’d suggest the prosecution call its witnesses. If the Senate says no witnesses at all, then it’s mute whether Biden appears. If the Senate permits only the witnesses that the Republicans want, then it’s time to protest. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/29 "2019-12-29T16:04:39Z")
Well if Biden testifies in Trumps impeachment, I figure they will call me next to testify for the OJ trial. We have about the same involvement in Trumps impeachment I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/30 "2019-12-29T16:40:05Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What he needs to do is to show up, and then to answer every question with “My testimony is irrelevant to that question”, or “That question is irrelevant to the issue at trial here”. So you’re advocating Biden should be in contempt of Congress? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/31 "2019-12-29T17:11:23Z")
If congress would like to subpoena Joe Biden to testify as part of an investigation into something Joe Biden is accused of…I hypothetically, rhetorically wonder why they have not done so. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/32 "2019-12-29T17:40:33Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > And again, if he’s called before the Senate and he’s got nothing to hide, why should he resist testifying? Is he afraid that being grilled by mean Republican senators will create bad optics? If he’s got nothing to testify about, then there will be no negative impact to him. Instead, he’ll be able to say that he did the honourable thing and stood up before Congress. I imagine that this will be the typical questions he gets. “Just so I’m sure of the timeline. Was your personally motivated attempt to railroad the worthy Ukrainian prosecutor out, due to his potentially damaging investigations into your son’s company before or after, your son got a huge payout from said company for which he was completely unqualified and only got so that based on the influence they expected you to wield on their behalf. Please answer the question, before or after.” Easy to answer and totally non damaging if he has nothing to hide right? ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/33 "2019-12-29T17:42:17Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > That’s factually incorrect. Joe Biden’s name is in the impeachment bill. > [https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/755/text](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/755/text) > > A central question is if Trump’s solicitation was corrupt or legitimate. If Trump’s defence is that the was solicitation legitimate, then showing that Hunter Biden was acting corruptly and that Joe Biden was facilitating his son’s corrupt acts, supports that defence. Of course this hypothetical defence falls apart if there was no corruption on the Bidens’ behalf. So if Joe Biden has nothing to hide, then why wouldn’t he seek to discredit a political opponent by testifying that his reasons that he “corruptly solicited the Government of Ukraine” were rubbish? So, you expect the Bidens to stand up on the stand and say “yeah - we’re corrupt - Trump was perfectly correct to ask Ukraine to announce investigations - he was prevented from doing this with his own intelligence community due to the deep state and Hillary kept killing off the informants” Fact is - it doesn’t matter one bit if Trump is/was correct on this - he abused is office in the manner he went about trying to “investigate” it - he has several agencies with thousands of officers that can (and will) do these investigations if warranted. They clearly are not. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/34 "2019-12-29T18:38:20Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > Biden, the Democrats, and your assertion is that Biden shouldn’t testify because it will be a distraction. Furthermore, Biden is saying he has nothing to hide. What’s so distracting about Biden saying he did nothing? I have nothing to hide. I’m willing to testify just to call the orange fool a bunch of names, remind the Senate that he’s been corrupt his whole life, is a terrible businessman, and even to remind them that as of 1995, NO US bank would loan him any more money. But all those things I mentioned have NOTHING to do with the two impeachment charges about bullying Ukraine and obstructing congress. None of that will address anything in the Senate trial at all. Just like how Biden and his son have nothing to do with the charges. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/35 "2019-12-29T18:44:30Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > If congress would like to subpoena Joe Biden to testify as part of an investigation into something Joe Biden is accused of…I hypothetically, rhetorically wonder why they have not done so. It’s like Gertrude Stein’s Oakland, California. There’s no THERE there. GOP pols at all levels are Russian assets. They aim to dismantle America. Never forget. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/36 "2019-12-29T20:07:28Z")
Latest word has Joe saying that he would, or course, obey a legal subpoena. Don’t get it, to be honest. Maybe it has something to do with the reported struggle between Il Douche and McConnell, with ID wanting an Exoneration Extravaganza, with speeches, fireworks and half-time show starring Kid Rock and Jon Voight. Darth Turtle wants the Senate to convene at eleven, vote the acquittal at eleven-thirty, and break for lunch. Maybe it has to do with the fact that witnesses who say he’s guilty have already spoken, and those who say he’s innocent either won’t testify or aren’t allowed to. It would be batshit stupid to insist on a big show, so that’s what I’m counting on. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/37 "2019-12-29T20:11:12Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > But if both Joe Biden and Hunter Biden have done nothing wrong, then Joe Biden’s testimony will establish that, correct? No, not necessarily. > [@](#): > > Why should Joe Biden resist providing honest innocent answers to senators if it’s not going to do him any harm and may actually make Trump look worse? Because of the above - it may not work out that way. It’s a common refrain that “if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.” But the real world doesn’t work like that. First because there may be no unambiguous way to _prove_ your innocence, just a lot of declarations that can add up to folks disbelieving you anyway. Second because lacking such unambiguous evidence( or even if you have some but their is some tiny side point that is arguable )a skilled prosecutor can twist your responses to cast you in the worst light. Worse if you get confused or rattled while on the hot seat and start misspeaking or even worse start flat out getting things wrong and contradicting yourself. The other point is of course the same as everyone else is making. It’s a transparent ploy to distract from the real focus of the hearing, i.e. Trump by taking his leading challenger in the upcoming presidential election and trying to score points or short-circuit his campaign. And since the presidential contest is large measure a personality fight, you can be completely right but still come off as hostile, combative or confused in the hearing and damage your political brand. Even assuming Biden is 100% squeaky clean he has nothing to gain and everything to lose by appearing in the hearing. You _never_ want to get forced on the stand for anything - shit can go sideways even if you’re as pure as the driven snow. Now Biden is going to have to appear if he’s called and sure there is the possibility he’ll emerge triumphant and all of America will flock to vote for him in the next election. But there is a reason smart medieval rulers avoided pitched battles when they could. Even if the odds are in your favor it is a colossal gamble to stake everything on a venture that could sink you, even if you’re in the right. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/38 "2019-12-29T20:24:10Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > So you’re advocating Biden should be in contempt of Congress? Your side is not particularly concerned about contempt of Congress. Apparently, that’s a crime that only Democrats are capable of committing. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/39 "2019-12-29T21:54:28Z")
FWIW I think that if Biden is called, he will have to come. And if he is asked a misleading question as described above, he will answer that he got the corrupt guy fired precisely because they guy wouldn’t investigate corruption. I guess they will prevent him from saying that (“Just answer yes or no”) but that is what will happen. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/40 "2019-12-29T22:18:27Z")
If Biden is not subpoenaed or asked to appear voluntarily by the Senate he can do whatever he wants. I presume he would not appear voluntarily. If Biden is subpoenaed to appear by the Senate he can appear, attempt to quash the subpoena in the courts, or refuse to appear without challenging the subpoena in court. ISTM that refusal to appear without a court challenge would be met by Republicans saying that it validates the refusal to testify in the part of various witnesses called by the House who exerted executive privilege. But a court challenge puts him in the unenviable position of arguing that he should be the judge of whether his testimony is relevant. And if he successfully quashes the subpoena any successful arguments would be parroted by those who exerted executive privilege in refusing to testify in the House. So IMHO the best option Biden has is to wait for a subpoena and to comply with it if it comes. He will not be short of advice on how he should respond to various questions. I am quite certain he can testify without being particularly helpful to the Republican storyline. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540.md?page=3)