Senator Joe Manchin has become the first Democrat to go on record saying that Hunter Biden is a relevant witness. Note the jaw droppage of the host Willie Geist when Manchin gives his answer:
Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin concedes Hunter Biden is a relevant witness in impeachment trialhttps://t.co/fsW0cMbEhn pic.twitter.com/7KcEmDW7V7
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 29, 2020
The Washington Post’s Robert Costa followed up with Manchin, who he says doubled down on Hunter Biden. But for some reason he wouldn’t say Joe Biden is relevant…
Just spoke with Sen. Manchin. He stood by his comments on @Morning_Joe about supporting possibly calling Hunter Biden. Asked him if he’d be open to calling VP Biden. He said no, called that a “bridge too far.”
— Robert Costa (@costareports) January 29, 2020
How is Hunter Biden relevant but Joe Biden is not? That makes entirely no sense, because it was Joe Biden who pushed all of this into the forefront by admitting he demanded that Ukraine fire their prosecutor or they would get no US aid.
CNN caught up with Manchin to grill him about his comments on Hunter Biden and he seemed to backpedal slightly:
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin explains his answer on Hunter Biden being a relevant witness: "The only thing I've said is that there should be an adult in the room. … We should vote again on Chief Justice Roberts being able to determine who is pertinent" https://t.co/kDvAcrdulz pic.twitter.com/weqsnDYF03
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 29, 2020
Now he appears to be putting this onto John Roberts, who he says should be able to determine who is pertinent. And if Roberts decided Hunter Biden was was a relevant witness, then Manchin says he would absolutely go along with that. I wonder if the same holds true for Joe Biden, who he just said is not relevant…
In any event, Manchin’s revelation in support of calling Hunter Biden this morning isn’t going over well with Democrats. Here’s a few responses…
As I watch Joe Manchin say Hunter Biden’s testimony is relevant, I’m reminded that his trump loving ass also voted for Kavanaugh. I’m also reminded that I fucking hate Joe Manchin.
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) January 29, 2020
I honestly don't care much if Hunter Biden testifies, but this is a good reminder that if a Democrat is elected in November Joe Manchin will probably make their life hell and singlehandedly stop almost any progressive legislation.
I wrote about that here: https://t.co/mpDg7VRCHo https://t.co/OYSfL6abL9
— Paul Waldman (@paulwaldman1) January 29, 2020
Why wld @Sen_JoeManchin say this. He's wrong on relevance and accomplishes nothing expect making himself an unwelcome member if Dem Psrty since GOP already have enough votes to call Hunter w/o him. https://t.co/UCTsGvUobi
— Jill Wine-Banks (@JillWineBanks) January 29, 2020
UPDATE: Schumer responds…
Schumer responded to Joe Manchin on Hunter Biden in his presser today, saying, "Hunter Biden is irrelevant and a distraction" and "It’s not up to Joe Manchin whether to call Hunter Biden."
— Clare Foran (@ckmarie) January 29, 2020
Leader @SenSchumer told @kasie that Hunter Biden is “irrelevant” and a “distraction” when she asked about what @Sen_JoeManchin said today. Also noted calling Hunter Biden not up to Manchin but the Republicans and not sure if they even have the votes for that.
— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) January 29, 2020
And now Durbin..
Dem Whip Dick Durbin says he’s fine if Manchin votes with Republicans to hear from Hunter Biden but ads if that happens then “it becomes a complete political exercise”
— Matt Laslo (@MattLaslo) January 29, 2020