Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is pushing back against President Donald Trump’s attacks insisting Democrats want to completely defund the police.
Biden appeared on the CBS Evening News special “Justice for All” on Tuesday evening where he was asked about systemic racism and police reform. He made it clear that he does not support the idea of defunding the police.
Biden went on note the initiatives he does support for police reform.
“No, I don’t support defunding the police. I support conditioning federal aid to police, based on whether or not they meet certain basic standards of decency and honorableness,” Biden said. “And, in fact, are able to demonstrate they can protect the community and everybody in the community.”
CBS host Norah O’Donnell went on to note the various discussions about the distinction between defunding and reforming the police. She also noted Trump’s criticism of Democrats’ efforts calling them “weak” while insisting their goal is to defund police.
This year has seen the lowest crime numbers in our Country’s recorded history, and now the Radical Left Democrats want to Defund and Abandon our Police. Sorry, I want LAW & ORDER!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2020
Top Democrats have said the idea has been “easily caricatured.”
“This movement today, some people tried to hijack it,” House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) also said, according to Politico. “Don’t let yourselves be drawn into the debate about defunding police forces.”
See Biden’s remarks below:
The former senator noted the opposition Trump has faced from current and former military officers for the forceful actions against peaceful protesters.
He also argued that Trump is less than credible and should “just stop” making comments.
“The president has no credibility on anything. He lies. He’s the first person anyone can think of in modern history who’s taking regular military officers and had them move against peaceful demonstrators, causing four former chiefs of staff to say this guy’s bad, this guy’s wrong. He should just stop!”
Biden’s interview came as Congressional Democrats unveiled new legislation for police reform, as previously reported on IJR. The proposed bill lays out plans to overhaul law enforcement in an effort to hold police officers accountable for their actions.