Throughout the impeachment of President Donald Trump, Congressional Republicans have suggested that Hunter Biden should testify about his dealings in Ukraine — calls Democrats have largely dismissed.
When MSNBC’s Willie Geist asked Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) on Wednesday if he thought Biden is a “relevant witness”, Manchin said that he does.
“I think so. I really do. I don’t have a problem there because this is why we are where we are.”
“But being afraid to put anybody that might have pertinent information is wrong — not matter if you’re a Democrat or a Republican. And not go home and say, ‘Well, I protected one.’ No, if it’s relevant, then it should be there,” he added.
Watch the interview below:
.@WillieGeist asks @Sen_JoeManchin if Hunter Biden is a 'relevant witness.' Sen. Manchin responds: "I think so; I really do." pic.twitter.com/ZESiUMWTWc
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) January 29, 2020
Speaking to reporters after that interview, Manchin said he stood by his comments, but said he would like Chief Justice John Roberts to weigh in on whether Biden should be considered a relevant witness.
“Most of the trial’s been about [Biden],” Manchin said, adding, “The only thing I would is, I would leave it up to Justice Roberts. There has to be an adult in the room. If you take the politics out it and say this is pertinent, or it’s not pertinent.”
“If the witness is pertinent to the charges that were brought, then the person should be a qualified witness,” he added.
Manchin said that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) had not spoken to him about his comments on MSNBC, but noted that his voters might have a different opinion of who should or should not be called as a witness than voters in New York.
“And I gotta go home and explain what I did, and my purpose for doing it. If I can’t explain it, I can’t vote for it,” Manchin said.
However, he said he thinks it would be a “bridge too far” to have the former vice president testify but stipulated, “If not, then have the president come.”
Finally, Manchin blasted the “hypocrisy” that has been on display throughout the trial, noting that senators from both parties have made comments that run counter opinions they stated publicly during the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton.
“They’ve all reversed themselves,” Manchin said, adding, “I don’t think they put that much wiggle room in there that you could change your position completely on how you felt within a 20 year period … doesn’t make sense. ”
Watch the video below:
Sen. Joe Manchin: "The whole process is hypocrisy… They've all reversed themselves, Schumer and McConnell both." pic.twitter.com/pP8ks3Ktd0
— The Hill (@thehill) January 29, 2020
Manchin’s comments come days before the Senate is expected to vote on whether or not to call new witnesses in the trial.