President Donald Trump is publicly encouraging China to investigate Democratic political rival Joe Biden, snubbing his se at an impeachment inquiry into wher a similar, private appeal to ar foreign government violated his oath of office. Trump declared Thursday at White House, “China should start an investigation into Bidens.” He said he hn’t previously asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to investigate former vice president and his son Hunter, but it's certainly something we could start thinking about.”

Trump asks China to probe Biden

By publicly egging on China, Trump was amplifying mess he’d delivered in private to president of Ukraine. That mess, revealed by a government whistleblower, has spawned impeachment investigation by House. Trump, who has defended his contact with Ukraine as “perfect,” went furr in expanding his request to China, a communist world power that has much at stake in its relationship with United States in an ongoing tre war. boldness of Trump’s call Thursday also suggests he will continue to act as though requests for or countries to investigate potential opponents in 2020 election are rmal, even in face of bro condemnation from Democrats and some Republicans. It’s a tactic Trump has used successfully before, pushing questionable secret conversations into open, helping to iculate him against charges that he is engd in nefarious action, cover-ups or obstruction of justice.

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"I have an absolute right”: Trump

Trump doubled down on his comments later Thursday, saying in a tweet: “As President of United States, I have an absolute right, perhaps even a duty, to investigate, or have investigated, CORRUPTION, and that would include asking, or suggesting, or Countries to help us out!” Vice President Mike Pence stepped in to defend Trump earlier in day, saying Americans have a right to kw about wrongdoing president alleges, despite evidence to support wrongdoing by Biden, a top contender for 2020 Democratic mination. Biden’s campaign chairman said Trump’s assertions merely show he’s afraid of facing Biden in next year’s election. House Intelligence Committee Chairman am Schiff, who has a leing role in Congress’ impeachment inquiry, said Trump’s comments suggest “he feels he can do anything with impunity.”

Trump’s appeal to China evoked his public call in 2016 for Russia to track down his n-rival Hillary Clinton’s emails — a move that was seen as an unprecedented appeal for foreign election interference. It is a violation of federal campaign finance law to solicit anything of value from a foreign government to help a campaign. In case of both Ukraine and China, Trump has me his allegations against Biden without evidence of any wrongdoing. president and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani have for days been raising suspicions about Hunter Biden’s business dealings in China, leaning heavily on writings of conservative author Peter Schweizer. On Monday, Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called allegation that Chinese government business gave Biden’s son $1.5 billion “totally groundless.”

Trump’s unprompted reference to China on Thursday came moments after he was asked about tre negotiations with country. “I have a lot of options on China, but if y don’t do what we want, we have tremendous, tremendous power,” Trump said. He later alleged without evidence that China h a “sweeart deal” on tre with U.S. because of Bidens.

“You kw what y call that,” Trump said. “y call that a payoff.”

Speaking to reporters in Arizona, Pence, whose aides h previously tried to distance from impeachment drama, echoed Trump’s call for an investigation of Bidens.  “ American people have a right to kw if vice president of United States or his family profited from his position as vice president during last ministration,” he said. Trump’s requests for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Bidens, as well as Giuliani’s conduct, are at center of an intelligence community whistleblower’s complaint that sparked House Democratic impeachment inquiry last week.

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'This president is scared'

Biden campaign chairman Cedric Richmond dismissed Trump’s assertions as a reflection of president’s concerns about facing Biden in a general election. “This president is scared, and he’s acting out,” Louisiana congressman said. Federal Election Commission Chairwoman Ellen Weintraub responded to Trump’s remarks, tweeting a reminder that it is a violation of campaign finance law for anyone to “solicit accept or receive” anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a U.S. election. ncy polices campaign finance laws. But after a recent resignation, its board does t have eugh commissioners to legally meet and take enforcement action.

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Biden denied releasing tax returns

Trump himself has faced multiple allegations that he and his children have enriched mselves through his presidential candidacy and time in office, including spending by U.S. and foreign governments at his properties. Trump has contended that his political life actually has cost him money, though he is first major presidential candidate in modern history to refuse to release tax returns that would provide more detail. Trump has sought to implicate Biden and his son in kind of corruption that has long plagued Ukraine. Hunter Biden served on board of a Ukrainian gas company, Burisma, at same time that his far was leing Obama ministration’s diplomatic dealings with Kyiv. Trump encourd Zelenskiy to work with Giuliani, and also volunteered assistance of Attorney General William Barr to investigate Bidens.

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