John Kerry accused Republicans of “supporting a cover-up” as he attempted to shift the focus of the Ukraine controversy back on President Donald Trump.

The former Secretary of State leveled slanderous assertions against the president, accusing him of “leveraging American foreign policy” and potentially “extorting” a foreign leader in the wake of a whistleblower complaint alleging Trump made a “promise” to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as he urged him to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter.

(Video: CBS News)

Kerry made his remarks as he slammed Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani during his appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” Sunday.

“First of all it’s entirely inappropriate for the president’s personal attorney to be involved in another country trying to find dirt on a presidential candidate,” the former Democratic presidential nominee told anchor Margaret Brennan, referring to the former New York City mayor’s calls for an investigation into alleged corruption by Biden’s son in his business dealings in Ukraine.

Giuliani doubled down on Monday in a tweet demanding a probe into Biden’s activities.

If Dem party doesn’t call for investigation of Bidens’ millions from Ukraine and billions from China, they will own it. Bidens’ made big money selling public office. How could Obama have allowed this to happen? Will Dems continue to condone and enable this kind pay-for-play? — Rudy Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) September 23, 2019

“You know, for the president of the United States to be leveraging American foreign policy, hocking it, extorting the leader of another country–if that’s what has happened–is unprecedented, and the last time a president did that, Richard Nixon, the Republican Party stood up and held him accountable for the abuse of power,” Kerry said.

“This Republican Party today is running for cover and actually inadvertently supporting a cover-up if what is alleged is true,” Kerry added.

“The only way to get at it is to release the transcript. Let everybody see what the president said,” he said, referring to the whistleblower complaint which Democrats have been clamoring for.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to cave in to pressure from her party’s left following a rebuke by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez over the weekend on impeachment of the president.

The California Democrat warned that a “whole new stage of investigation” could be coming as she called on lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to act in the face of the administration’s blocking of Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire from releasing the document which reportedly related to the conversation between Trump and the Ukrainian leader in July.

Pelosi caves after AOC drubbing; declares impeachment back on the table https://t.co/gUwuYUUYS5 — Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) September 23, 2019

Sen. Lindsey Graham, meanwhile, said the Justice Department instead should conduct an investigation targeting Biden, telling Fox News Sunday that “now is the time” to look at “the Biden-Ukraine connection.”

Kerry blared the same alarm Democrats have been sounding, dramatically focusing on Trump’s “disturbing abuse of power” while conveniently ignoring the questionable conduct of the former vice president and his son.

“If he leveraged American foreign policy and foreign aid to get a president of another country to be the opposition research arm of his campaign, that is a fundamental, profound, and deeply disturbing abuse of power,” Kerry said of Trump, echoing Pelosi’s claims that the administration “will be entering a grave new chapter of lawlessness” with the “possible breach of constitutional duties by the president.”

Giuliani reminded everyone where the real outrage should be directed.

Did Obama know that his VP, the one he put in charge of giving billions to Ukraine, had a son who was making millions on the board of one of the most corrupt companies in Ukraine. Biden’s boss had stolen $5b from Ukraine and was a fugitive. Did Obama know? Did he approve? — Rudy Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) September 23, 2019

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff claimed during CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that Trump’s actions amount to “the most profound violation of the presidential oath of office.”

Giuliani warned that the Biden “scandal” was only just beginning.

Biden scandal only beginning. Lots more evidence on Ukraine like today’s money laundering of $3 million. 4 or 5 big disclosures. Also the $1.5 billion China gave to Biden’s fund while Joe was, as usual, failing in his negotiations with China is worse. — Rudy Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) September 23, 2019

Biden has denied ever speaking to his son about his business in Ukraine, also calling Trump’s actions an “overwhelming abuse of power.”

The president fired back at accusations Sunday, noting that nothing inappropriate occurred on the call to the Ukrainian president and that Biden’s “corruption” was at the heart of the issue.

Trump sets the record straight: Ukraine call was about Biden ‘corruption’ https://t.co/sTgFN0XaLZ — Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) September 22, 2019

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko denied the allegations that Trump had pressured the Ukrainian president, saying in a recent interview that leaders “have the right to discuss any problems that exist.”

“I know what the conversation was about, and I think there was no pressure,” Prystaiko said.