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Joe Biden Misses Fundraiser in Baltimore
CNN — Former Vice President Joe Biden had to miss a Tuesday fundraiser in Baltimore because of traffic caused by an accident south of the welcome center named after him, campaign spokeswoman Remi Yamamoto said.
A tractor trailer overturned on I-95 in Newark, Delaware, forcing the highway to be closed in both directions, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation. The accident was south of the Biden Welcome Center, which was renamed in honor of Biden and his family last year for their service to the state.
Biden delivered remarks to the event over speakerphone, apologizing for not being able to make it.
“We were on time heading down to see you all and there was a major, major accident. A tractor trailer overturned, we later learned. We sat there for about 40, 45 minutes — maybe longer,” he said, according to a pool report.
The Democratic presidential candidate was traveling from an event in Wilmington, Delaware, where he made his most direct statement to date on impeachment. The former vice president said Tuesday that if President Donald Trump does not cooperate with Congress, he would leave lawmakers with “no choice” but to start impeachment proceedings.
In his remarks to the fundraiser, Biden said Trump is attacking him because he presents a formidable challenge to the President’s reelection prospects and reiterated his support for holding him accountable.
“But if we allow a president to get away with shredding the United States Constitution, this is going to last forever. This goes well beyond me. This is a national problem. This isn’t a Democratic problem. This isn’t a Republican problem. If I dropped out tomorrow, the fact is we can’t let this happen,” Biden said.
Shortly after Biden made his comments, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry into Trump, a dramatic and historic move that comes as Trump faces outrage over reports that he pressured a foreign leader in an effort to target a political rival.
Trump on Sunday acknowledged he discussed Biden in a July call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. CNN previously reported Trump pressed Zelensky in the call to investigate Biden’s son, Hunter, according to a person familiar with the situation. That call was also part of a whistleblower complaint submitted to the Intelligence Community Inspector General, another person familiar with the situation told CNN.
There is no evidence of wrongdoing by either Joe or Hunter Biden. Trump on Sunday acknowledged the phone call and that he discussed Biden, but denied doing anything improper. The President said Tuesday he would release a transcript of the phone call.
This story has been updated to include Biden’s remarks to the fundraiser.
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