# 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:** 3
**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, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/41 "2019-12-29T22:23:03Z")
Q: Donald Trump, so nice to have you here under oath, did you ask a foreign leader to investigate an American citizen? A: Ask Joe Biden some questions! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/42 "2019-12-29T22:24:45Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > If both the Bidens are truly innocent, wouldn’t direct testimony to that fact make point #1 even more damaging? Neither of the Bidens have been accused of a crime and the purpose of the impeachment trial is not to find them guilty or innocent of anything. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/43 "2019-12-29T22:40:22Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Neither of the Bidens have been accused of a crime and the purpose of the impeachment trial is not to find them guilty or innocent of anything. Not so fast. I’d like to hear what they know about Hillary’s email server and Benghazi. If they deny any knowledge, we’ll know they are hiding something. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/44 "2019-12-29T22:40:26Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > The entire reason the Republicans want Biden there is to turn it into a trial of _Biden_ instead of a trial of Trump’s conduct as President, which is what they’re _supposed to be doing_. > > Not only should Biden not be there, the partisan idiots who proposed this idea should be struck on the nose with a rolled up newspaper and firmly told “No!” > [@galen\_ubal](#): > > Nope. He’s not the one on trial, Trump is. > [@Smapti](#): > > There’s no good-faith reason for the Senate to call him. All of these things are true. But Biden screwed up. He should have said, “Of course I would testify if I am subpoenaed. I will obey the law.” That would have demonstrated the way Trump and his administration have been trying to defy subpoenas. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/45 "2019-12-29T22:49:14Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > All of these things are true. But Biden screwed up. > > He should have said, “Of course I would testify if I am subpoenaed. I will obey the law.” > > That would have demonstrated the way Trump and his administration have been trying to defy subpoenas. Biden never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/46 "2019-12-29T22:58:42Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > 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? Because asking the president of a foreign nation to investigate your political opponent is an abuse of power _regardless of what that other person may or may not have done._. It is NOT about either Biden’s actions, it is about _Trump’s_ actions. Asking a foreign government to investigate your political opponent is wrong. Attempting to coerce that government to investigate a political opponent by withholding aid is also wrong. They are both an abuse of power. If Trump believes Biden (either one) did something wrong the correct course of action is to ask the FBI or other appropriate _American_ law enforcement agency to investigate. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/47 "2019-12-29T23:04:37Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > No, I’m asking about Biden. It’s right there in the thread title. 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? _Wrenching Spanners, have you stopped beating your wife yet?_ Answer yes or no. You have nothing to hide, right? It is not Biden on trial, it is Trump. It was wrong of Trump to ask a foreign government to investigate an American citizen. It was also wrong with withhold aid appropriated by Congress for that nation in order to coerce their president to announce an investigation. THAT is what is on trial, not what Biden may or may not have done. Even if Biden was the devil himself and doing horrible things it would be _irrelevant_ to Trump’s impeachment because Trump’s guilt or innocence is based on whether or not what Trump did was wrong (which it was) and not what Biden did or didn’t do. > [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > You think it will hurt his future campaign. I think it will help his campaign **if** Biden is innocent, proclaims his innocence, and answers those questioning his innocence. Of course, that’s a big **if**. Again - _Trump is on trial, not Biden_. And it’s not a “big if” - there is ZERO evidence of any wrong-doing on either Biden’s part here, outside of Trump’s twitter account. The Republicans want to make this about Biden because they know Trump is guilty as sin. The impeachment is about Trump and Trump alone. ---
**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, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/48 "2019-12-29T23:07:59Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Because asking the president of a foreign nation to investigate your political opponent is an abuse of power _regardless of what that other person may or may not have done._. > > It is NOT about either Biden’s actions, it is about _Trump’s_ actions. Asking a foreign government to investigate your political opponent is wrong. Attempting to coerce that government to investigate a political opponent by withholding aid is also wrong. They are both an abuse of power. > > If Trump believes Biden (either one) did something wrong the correct course of action is to ask the FBI or other appropriate _American_ law enforcement agency to investigate. Isn’t it amazing how simply true this is, and at the same time it is so utterly not understood? It makes me want to smack my own self in the forehead. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/49 "2019-12-29T23:08:15Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > If Biden has nothing to hide, then he should welcome the chance to testify before the Senate and be exonerated, correct? Exonerated of what charge in what legal proceeding in what venue in what jurisdiction, exactly? Answer that and I’ll tell you what Biden should welcome. Actually, no, I’ll save you the time. Trump should subpoena Biden for whatever bullshit he pleases. Biden should challenge the subpoena in court, for the obvious bullshit that it is, which delays the impeachment trial ever closer to the election, and toward that date in June when SCOTUS says Trump can no longer hide his finances from Congress. Truly a genius move on Trump’s part. Bring on the subpoenas. Do it today. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/50 "2019-12-29T23:11:15Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > The House bill of impeachment is the document that mentions the solicitation of an investigation into Joe Biden and alleges the solicitation was corrupt. The Senate has every right to further examine that allegation. Yes, they have every right to invesitage whether or not Trump committed the actions for which he was impeached. This is NOT, however, about determining anything about _Biden’s_ actions. > [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > Beyond that, it will likely come down to how Trump wishes to defend the articles of impeachment. If his defence is that the investigation of Hunter and Joe Biden was a legitimate use of executive power, then it’s appropriate for the Senate to examine that defence. It’s not. Asking another government to interfere in US matters is not a legitimate use of executive powers. If it is deemed to be legitimate then our democracy is over. > [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > Which means they have a right to call for Biden’s testimony. No, it doesn’t, because this isn’t about what Biden might or might not have done, it’s about what TRUMP did. TRUMP’s actions and no one else’s. > [@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? No, it’s because he’s _irrelevant_ to whether or not what TRUMP did was ethical/legal/appropriate or not. But the Republicans _desperately_ want this to be about anyone other than Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/51 "2019-12-29T23:25:12Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > If both the Bidens are truly innocent, wouldn’t direct testimony to that fact make point #1 even more damaging? Once again - The Bidens are not on trial here. TRUMP is on trial. It’s about what TRUMP did or didn’t do. What Trump did was wrong _regardless_ of what the Bidens might or might not have done. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/52 "2019-12-29T23:46:23Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Not so fast. I’d like to hear what they know about Hillary’s email server and Benghazi. If they deny any knowledge, we’ll know they are hiding something. Indeed. And while we’re at it, what did the Bidens know about 9/11, and when did they know it? And are they lizard people? They should testify in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial so that we can clear this all up.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/53 "2019-12-29T23:54:19Z")
> [@Wrenching\_Spanners](#): > > From the original NPR transcript 20 days ago: > > [Transcript: NPR's Full Interview With Joe Biden : NPR](https://www.npr.org/2019/12/09/785521659/transcript-nprs-full-interview-with-joe-biden?t=1577609658951) > > Biden’s since walked his comments back a bit saying he would comply with the law, but is still equivocating: > > [Biden Changes Course on Potential Trump Impeachment Subpoena | TIME](https://time.com/5756251/biden-trump-impeachment-iowa-subpoena/) > > If Biden has nothing to hide, then he should welcome the chance to testify before the Senate and be exonerated, correct? If [del]Biden[/del] Trump has nothing to hide, then he should welcome the chance to testify before the Senate and be exonerated, correct? ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/54 "2019-12-30T00:59:23Z")
The question is not should Joe Biden testify. The question is are 50 Republicans dumb enough to pull the stunt required to make him testify. Because that is exactly what it would be, a dumb stunt. It would be a transparently obvious use of the Mark Fuhrman defense. And we all know OJ is innocent, right? Every question directed at Joe Biden is going to be a “when did you stop beating your wife?” variation. I hope he answers every single one with a variation of “deez nuts”. However, nothing he says will actually matter because on Fox News every story will be about how Joe Biden admitted to his epic corruption and completely exonerated Trump in the process. And if the theory is that innocent people having nothing to hide then how about we talk about how this all began? Because as I recall it began with people listening to the recording of Trump’s “perfect” phone call with Zelensky and deciding that the perfect call record had to be buried in a military-grade server that no one has access to. Because that’s what innocent people do with their perfect calls. They hide them and they forbid anyone to talk about the issue. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/55 "2019-12-30T01:08:12Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > The question is not should Joe Biden testify. The question is are 50 Republicans dumb enough to pull the stunt required to make him testify. Because that is exactly what it would be, a dumb stunt. It would be a transparently obvious use of the Mark Fuhrman defense. And we all know OJ is innocent, right? It’s not a dumb stunt; it’s actually an effective ruse because it’s a distraction. If you look at how authoritarianism and anti-democratic activism works, it works by deepening cynicism about the entire political process and by leaving voters with the idea that the truth cannot be known, and that there’s really no difference between party A and party B, between candidate A and candidate B. The (pseudo) prosecution of Joe Biden makes perfect sense – from the Republicans’ point of view. I know people want to assume that the average voter is educated, civically-minded, and interested in objective truth. But that’s just not true. The average voter is easily confused. Democracy is hard work and most people are more interested in their Netflix playlist than educating themselves about politics. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/56 "2019-12-30T01:08:38Z")
Suppose Biden ignores the subpoena, are there any penalties for doing so? If not, he can ignore to his heart’s content. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/57 "2019-12-30T01:20:00Z")
It doesn’t matter one bit regarding trump’s trial if Joe Biden was on the Grassy Knoll. Should he testify? He shouldn’t even be asked to. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/58 "2019-12-30T01:51:56Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > It’s about what TRUMP did or didn’t do. What Trump did was wrong _regardless_ of what the Bidens might or might not have done. So if Biden _as Vice-President_ asked a foreign prosecutor to stop an investigation ofhis son, then it is still inappropriate for a later President to ask the foreign country to investigate it? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/59 "2019-12-30T02:02:21Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So if Biden _as Vice-President_ asked a foreign prosecutor to stop an investigation ofhis son, then it is still inappropriate for a later President to ask the foreign country to investigate it? Trump didn’t ask for an investigation. Trump asked for an _announcement_ of an investigation. There’s no indication he ever wanted or cared about an actual investigation. Do you see now? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540/60 "2019-12-30T02:03:00Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > So if Biden _as Vice-President_ asked a foreign prosecutor to stop an investigation ofhis son, then it is still inappropriate for a later President to ask the foreign country to investigate it? :rolleyes: A more appropriate question is, is it appropriate for a later president **to withhold federal taxpayer money** , authorized by congress, to use as leverage to demand an investigation. If anyone beyond this post characterizes Trump’s behavior as “just asking questions,” I will call that poster a liar. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-joe-biden-testify-during-the-impeachment-hearings/845540.md?page=4)