Biden warns of ‘abuse of power’ in measured Trump critique

Joe Biden is warning that those ‘tasked with enforcing the law are abusing their powers’ in a measured critique of Donald Trump.

Joe Biden’s comments came amid escalating ‘Obamagate’ rhetoric from Donald Trump. Picture: AP

Joe Biden has warned that those “tasked with enforcing the law are abusing their powers”, offering a measured critique of the Trump administration.

Speaking to Columbia University Law School graduates via video on Thursday AEDT, Mr Biden urged them to “protect the very foundations of democracy”.

“Trust in self-governance. Because right now, it’s under attack,” the presumptive Democrat presidential nominee said. “The very people tasked with enforcing the rule of law are abusing their powers, protecting their friends, weakening the very principles that make our country work.”

His comments come amid escalating rhetoric from Donald Trump and his allies pushing conspiracy theories and alleging improper behaviour during the Obama administration.

Asked on Wednesday how he’d respond to the allegations, Mr Biden said: “I don’t want to get down in the mud with these guys.”

Speaking at a Yahoo News virtual town hall, Mr Biden said Mr Trump was trying to distract voters from his inadequate response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dubbing his allegations “Obamagate”, Mr Trump has pointed to the legal case of his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, suggesting the unmasking of the retired lieutenant general’s name as part of US surveillance of foreign targets was criminal and motivated by partisan politics.

“This is his pattern. Diversion, diversion, diversion, diversion,” Mr Biden said on Wednesday.

“The greatest crime? I mean, my Lord.”

A Senate committee led by Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson is to vote on whether to issue a subpoena as part of an investigation into Mr Biden’s son, Hunter, and his work for Ukrainian gas company Burisma that grew out of Mr Trump’s impeachment earlier this year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday prosecutors have opened a criminal inquiry into leaked tapes that allegedly feature the country’s former leader discussing conditions for a $US1bn loan with Mr Biden.

The tapes, yet to be authenticated, were released by Ukrainian MP Andrii Derkach, who has aired unsubstantiated corruption accusations against the Bidens.

The recordings don’t appear to contain anything that would incriminate the Bidens and were seen by some observers as a political effort to help Mr Trump’s re-election bid in November.

The Ukrainian investigation was opened on treason and abuse of office charges, indicating it was mostly directed against former president Petro Poroshenko, who has rejected the tapes as a fabrication by pro-Russian forces in Ukraine.

Mr Trump last year pressured Mr Zelensky to investigate the Bidens in a phone call that triggered his impeachment.

AP