Donald Trump must pay if guilty of any abuse
- The US president has refused to cooperate with an impeachment inquiry into a request made to Ukraine for help in investigating the Bidens
President Donald Trump, already facing an impeachment inquiry for seeking help from Ukraine to discredit potential re-election opponent Joe Biden, wants China to launch a corruption investigation of his challenger and son Hunter over business activities on the mainland. This does nothing to smooth the latest round of trade war talks. The American leader and his attorney general have also sought help from Australia and Italy. It is illegal under American law to accept or receive anything of value from a foreigner in connection with a United States election.
The direct request by Trump in a phone call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky for a favour that could help him in next year’s presidential election seems a clear violation of the law. Trump has openly implicated himself. Moreover, at the time, he had withheld US$391 million of defence aid to Ukraine. Diplomats are incredulous that he could link national security so blatantly to a personal political agenda.
Hunter Biden served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company at the same time his father, then US vice-president, was dealing with Ukraine for the administration of former president Barack Obama, but there has been no evidence of wrongdoing. Referring to China, Trump told reporters that “if they don’t do what we want, we have tremendous power”, which could be a threat to use the trade talks as a bargaining chip. The affair beggars belief.
The president is being so open about soliciting foreign help that Republicans argue there can be little to worry about from the opposition Democrats’ inquiry. The White House has played down concerns that Chinese willingness to investigate Joe Biden and his son would be linked to progress in the trade talks. In any case it would fly in the face of Beijing’s principle of non-interference in other nations’ affairs. But Democrats can be expected to scrutinise concessions to China for what Trump received in return.
As for the impeachment, the White House has refused to cooperate. Trump’s tactics are a serious test for the US and foreign relations. American lawmakers on both sides have to hold him to account if he is found to have abused his power and office.