Debate: Biden says 'Russian pawn' Giuliani fed false information about Hunter to help Trump get re-elected

Democrat addresses unproven allegations about his son’s business dealings for the first time on a national stage

Joe Biden addressed unproven allegations about his son’s business dealings during the final presidential debate, accusing Donald Trump’s surrogates of being part of a Russian plot to interfere in the election.

Answering a question about election interference by foreign adversaries, Mr Biden said the publication of emails purportedly from his son Hunter’s laptop hard drive, passed to news outlets by Rudy Giuliani, was an effort to help Mr Trump get re-elected.  

“We are in a situation where we have foreign countries trying to interfere in our elections. His own national security adviser told him what is happening with his buddy … Rudy Giuliani. He’s being used as a Russian pawn, he’s being fed information that is not true,” Mr Biden said.

“Everything that is going on here is about Russia wanting to make sure that I do not get elected the next president of the United States because they know I know them, and they know me,” he added. 

Mr Biden was referencing a report in the Washington Post which cited US intelligence officials saying the White House was warned that Mr Giuliani , the president’s personal lawyer, was the target of a Russian intelligence operation. 

Mr Giuliani and other Trump surrogates have tried to tie the former vice president to the alleged controversy, suggesting he benefited financially from Hunter Biden’s position — again, without providing any evidence. 

"I have not taken a penny from any foreign source, ever, in my life," Mr Biden added.

Mr Trump, who was expected to go on the attack over the unsubstantiated allegations, referenced allegations based on files and emails purportedly taken from Hunter Biden’s laptop, some of which have been published in the New York Post. Copies of those files were given to the newspaper by Mr Giuliani.  

"He’s the vice president of the United States and his son, his brother and his other brother are getting rich. They’re like a vacuum cleaner," Trump said. 

Mr Trump noted that Hunter Biden drew a large salary from a Ukrainian firm while Mr Biden was vice president.

Mr Biden responded that the accusation had been investigated repeatedly and did not link him to any wrongdoing. The former vice president also noted that the president was impeached for attempting to pressure the president of Ukraine to find potentially damaging information on the Bidens, and had made money from his businesses in China. 

"I don't make money from China, you do. I don't make money from Ukraine, you do," Mr Trump said. 

He returned again to the issue: “If this is true, then he's a corrupt politician. So don't give me the stuff about how you're this innocent baby. Joe, they're calling you a corrupt politician. It's the laptop from hell.”

— With the Associated Press