(Headline USA) California Gov. Gavin Newsom defended Hunter Biden’s influence peddling during an interview this week with CNN’s Dana Bash, claiming it is “hardly unique” for families to profit from a famous member’s influence.
Bash asked the Democrat about reports that President Joe Biden joined business calls with Hunterand his associates.
“Republicans have shown that Hunter Biden … tried to leverage his father’s name and that the president allegedly, before he was president, joined phone calls that Hunter Biden’s business associates were on. Do you see anything inappropriate there?” Bash asked.
Newsom claimed he didn’t know “the details” of the allegations against the Bidens, but said he didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.
“If that’s the new criteria, there are a lot of folks in a lot of industries—not just in politics—where people have family members and relationships and they’re trying to parlay and get a little influence and benefit in that respect. That’s hardly unique,” he said.
Newsom claimed he doesn’t “love” that influence peddling occurs.
“We want to see a lot less of that. But an impeachment inquiry? Give me a break,” he continued.
Unlike other industries, such as the Hollywood film industry or the business world, the Bidens’ influence peddling likely resulted in changes to U.S. foreign policy that cost billions in taxpayer dollars, undermined U.S. national security and, of course, violated the U.S. Constitution.
In the same interview, Newsom also defended Joe Biden from criticism regarding his age and said the fact that Biden would be 86-years-old by the end of a second term doesn’t bother him.
“I want a seasoned pro that knows how to get things done,” Newsom said. “I’m a little old-fashioned. I want a guy who produces results—and the results are in, it’s been a masterclass.”
Despite rumors that he was considering launching his own bid for the presidency, Newsom announced he does not plan to run in 2024, endorsing Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris instead.
“I couldn’t imagine three years ago that this president could accomplish so much in such a short period of time—I mean that,” Newsom told Bash.
