Washington (CNN) Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden reiterated Friday that he would not comply with a subpoena to testify in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, in a new interview with the Des Moines Register's editorial board.

His comments come as Republicans have threatened to call Democrats -- including Biden and his son, Hunter -- to testify in a Senate impeachment trial after the House impeached Trump earlier this month , accusing him of abusing his power and obstructing Congress in relation to a Ukraine pressure campaign.

Biden said he wouldn't comply with a subpoena "because it's all designed to deal with Trump doing what he's done his whole life -- trying to take the focus off him."

When asked if defying a congressional subpoena could create the appearance that he is above the law, Biden held that his testimony would enable the President to "get away" from the trial's focus.

"Look, the grounds for them to call me would be overwhelmingly specious. But so I don't anticipate that happening anyway. But what it would do -- if I went, let's say I voluntarily, just said let me go make my case, what are you going to cover?" he asked, referring to the press.

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