Biden does not rule out his Justice Department investigating Trump

Biden sits for first interview since becoming president-elect

John T. Bennett
Washington Bureau Chief
Wednesday 25 November 2020 01:50 GMT
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Joe Biden speaks about the ongoing probes into Donald Trump - in his first interview as president-elect
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President-elect Joe Biden did not rule out his Justice Department investigating Donald Trump once the outgoing president is a citizen again – and noted he would be powerless to stop probes by the state of New York.

The incoming chief executive also previewed an ambitious first 100 days agenda, saying he intends to send Congress a sweeping immigration reform bill, while also looking to help those reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.

But Mr Biden did not say he would for sure order his DOJ to look into all things Trump once he is sworn in on 20 January.

“I will not do what this president has done, and that’s to use the Justice Department as my vehicle to insist … that something has happened,” he told NBC News in his first major interview since wining the presidency.

Notably, Mr Biden brought up probes ongoing of the president and his business that have reportedly been launched by the state of New York.

He said there is “nothing I can do … about” those investigations or how the might play out.

The soon-to-be president also laid out more about his plans for his first 100 days in office, the typical best window a new POTUS has to get a big bill through Congress.

On that list is an immigration bill he said will propose a “pathway to citizenship” for millions of undocumented immigrants.

He also said he would move to terminate executive orders signed by Mr Trump he feels have damaged the climate.

Concluding his list were things he says he wants to do to help get “immediate assistance to state and local governments” that are cash-strapped because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is more than just a financial crisis,” he said, describing it as “causing …  stress for millions of people.”

Mr Biden said doctors, nurses and first responders should be the first to receive a coronavirus vaccine.

He also said he is “very concerned” about getting schools re-opened – but did not lay out a plan for doing so.

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