Why Biden’s Not Talking About Trump’s Potential Indictment
In the days coming up to the 2020 election, then-candidate Joe Biden refused to comment on the possibility of indicting President Donald Trump should Biden win the election. Trump has been the subject of various investigations throughout his time in office, and there have been discussions about pursuing criminal charges against him. Biden’s decision to stay mum on the subject has come under scrutiny from both supporters and opponents alike. In this article, we’ll explore why Biden has chosen to remain silent on the subject of Trump’s potential indictment.
For the last four years, President Donald Trump has been the subject of numerous investigations and the target of much jovial banter amongst his opponents. Despite losing the election, his name continues to come up in conversations and his actions remain the subject of much debate. With so much speculation that the investigations into Trump may lead to criminal charges, Democratic candidate Joe Biden didn’t make any promises to pursue the indictment of President Trump should he win the election. We’ll explore why Joe Biden decided not to comment on the possibility of indicting President Donald Trump.
Political Considerations
When approaching any decision from a political standpoint, it’s essential to consider the consequences that such a choice could have. Joe Biden, as the former vice president and Democratic candidate, had to weigh how an answer to this question could affect his reputation, his policies and the party. There is no “correct” answer to the question of whether or not it would be right to pursue a criminal indictment against the president, and Biden had to consider how an affirmative, negative or neutral answer would reflect on himself and the party.
Biden’s belief that a criminal indictment is not appropriate
When asked, Joe Biden did not make any promises to either pursue or not pursue a criminal investigation against Donald Trump. He believes that as president, it would be inappropriate to make such a decision if it were his own. On the campaign trail, Biden didn’t make any promises to pursue a criminal indictment, though he did allude to it being unlikely. This decision appears to be rooted in his belief that it would be an abuse of power for a president – even a newly-elected one – to call for the indictment of the former president.
Precedents in History
It’s important to consider the precedent that would be set for future administrations if Biden were to pursue criminal charges against Donald Trump. Setting this precedent could mean that future presidents could would be subject to criminal charges in the future, regardless of political party. It could also give presidents a great weapon to put campaigns at odds with each other in future elections; a president’s legacy could also be tampered with long after they have left office if they were targeted posthumously.
The importance of Democratic unity
It’s also important to note how Joe Biden’s answer could affect the overall Democratic cohesiveness heading into 2021. Raising the issue of potential criminal charges on a president would could be a very contentious topic within the party. Democrats need to be on the same page with their policy decisions, and tackling divisive issues could lead to more dissension with members of the party.
The sanctity of democracy
Joe Biden also discussed the importance of upholding the sanctity of democracy in the United States. This involves respecting the will of the people, even when it might be a hard pill to swallow. In the final days of the campaign, he made it a point to emphasize this sentiment and how it was vital to the future of American democracy. He wanted to lead by example by putting the nation’s interests ahead of his own, and addressing any dissent through civil discussion.
In the end, Joe Biden’s decision not to address the possibility of indicting Donald Trump was about more than just trying to sidestep a difficult question. It was about respecting democracy, displaying unity amongst the party, upholding his own moral compass, and avoiding setting a potentially dangerous precedent for future administrations. Ultimately, Joe Biden chose to focus on the issues that matter to Americans, rather than attempting to score political points. As president, it’s up to him to move the nation forward during these divisive times, and that includes remaining firm in his beliefs.
