Shelby Talcott on October 11, 2019
2020 Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard went after former Vice President Joe Biden over the Ukraine controversy during an interview with The Hill’s “Rising With Krystal & Saagar” Friday morning.
Biden has come under fire over allegations that he pressured Ukrainian officials to fire its top prosecutor who was looking into a Ukrainian gas company that Biden’s son Hunter sat on the board of. The Hill’s Krystal Ball asked Gabbard if she would allow the Vice President’s son to sit on the board of a Ukrainian energy company if she were president, and the presidential candidate suggested she would not allow this.
“I think that would be a poor decision to make,” Gabbard responded.
Co-host Saagar Enjeti also noted Friday that many Democratic presidential candidates “have been very reluctant to call this out as evidence of corruption” and asked Gabbard if the allegations against Biden indicate corruption. (RELATED: Ukraine’s Top Prosecutor Says He Will Review Case Linked To Hunter Biden)
“I think the perception is certainly a concern,” Gabbard replied. “I think we have to look at how we can root out the corruption of the abuse of power and influence within our government, and I think that there’s a lot of examples of it.”
The allegations against Biden have resurfaced after an August whistleblower complaint accused President Donald Trump of asking Ukrainian officials to look into Biden and his son over the issue. The House of Representatives launched an official impeachment inquiry into the president Sept. 24 following the complaint.
Gabbard also added during the interview that she is still carefully considering boycotting the fourth Democratic debate after announcing the idea on Twitter Thursday morning. She believes that the DNC is rigging the election against voters in early states like Iowa and South Carolina.