Gavin Newsom says he ‘don’t like’ Hunter Biden benefiting from family ties, but mocks Republican impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden as ‘student government’
- California governor says voters have ‘right to worry’ about Biden, but he’s a ‘seasoned pro’
- Newsom says Kamala Harris will ‘absolutely’ be Biden’s running mate in 2024
Gavin Newsom, California’s Democratic governor, says he “doesn’t like” what he’s heard about Hunter Biden benefiting from his father’s position.
But he attacked Republican efforts to impeach Joe Biden, calling them a “joke” and “student government.”
He also said “voters have every right to be concerned” about the president’s age, but added, “I want a seasoned professional who knows how to get things done.”
In an interview with CNNNewsom, 55, also offered unequivocal support for Kamala Harris, saying she should “absolutely” be Biden’s running mate again in 2024.
His statements come as a CBS News/YouGov poll showed only a third of voters thought Biden, 80, would complete a second term, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fell short to offer clear support for Harris.
Gavin Newsom said Biden and Harris would be the Democratic nominees in 2024
Biden faces an impeachment inquiry launched by Republicans who investigated his son Hunter’s foreign business dealings in countries including China and Ukraine while his father was vice president.
Newsom said: “I don’t know enough about the details. I mean, I’ve seen a little bit. If that’s the new standard, there are a lot of people in a lot of sectors, not just politics, where people have family members and connections and they’re trying to negotiate a little bit, get a little bit of influence and advantages in this regard, it is hardly unique.
“I don’t like it, any more than you like it or other people, I imagine, like it. We want to see a lot less of this.
But he added: “An impeachment inquiry? Give me a break, it’s student government. It’s a joke. On your marks, shoot, aim. I mean, it’s a perversity compared to what the founding fathers ever conceived and imagined. So if that’s the best they can do, give me a break.
A potential Newsom 2024 bid has become a concern for Democrats worried about Biden’s advanced age and anemic poll numbers.
President Joe Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom in San Francisco in June
Kamala Harris will ‘absolutely’ be Joe Biden’s running mate, Newsom says
The California governor has recently made a name for himself by making appearances in other states, taking an official trip to China and agreeing to debate 2024 Republican candidate Ron DeSantis.
But in running himself in 2024, Newsom said, “The answer is no. No ambiguity. I’m not that guy. This is simply not the case.
He also said Harris should “of course” stay on the ticket.
“The Biden-Harris administration…a masterclass in performance, in bipartisan deals on infrastructure, in bipartisan deals on guns and the debt ceiling, on CHIPS and the Science Act,” did he declare.
“She can claim and credit much of that success. The answer is absolutely.
He added that Democrats should stop “navel-gazing about Joe Biden” and “go for it.”
“Let’s get on the train. This train has left the proverbial station,” Newsom said.
