Former Rep. John Delaney John DelaneyCoronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Rep. Rodney Davis Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer says Trump right on China but wrong on WHO; CDC issues new guidance for large gatherings The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says country needs to rethink what 'policing' means; US cases surpass 2 million with no end to pandemic in sight MORE (D-Md.) said Tuesday that while he does not believe fellow Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE has done anything wrong, he would not allow family members of his own vice president to sit on the board of a foreign company.

"I don't believe the vice president or his son did anything wrong," Delaney said during a CNN interview while discussing how he would handle such a situation if he were president. "However, I generally believe you should always avoid the appearance of impropriety."

"In my administration, I expect to raise the ethics standards, if you will, to prohibit certain activities that deal with foreign corporations, and this would be one of them," he added.

Question: "This has raised questions about whether family members of a vice president should be sitting on boards of foreign companies... Would you allow that of your vice president?"



John Delaney: "No." pic.twitter.com/qZvUrBhE0U — The Hill (@thehill) October 8, 2019

President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE and his GOP allies in recent weeks have criticized Biden over his efforts while serving as vice president in 2016 to push Ukraine to fire a top prosecutor.

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The prosecutor had looked into a Ukrainian energy company where Biden's son served on the board, though no evidence has emerged that Biden acted with his son's interests in mind, and both Bidens have denied any wrongdoing.

The issue was thrust into the spotlight last month and has since been at the heart of House Democrats' impeachment inquiry following revelations that Trump urged the president of Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son over the summer.

During a July 25 phone call — a rough transcript of which was later released by the White House — Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to "look into" Biden and encouraged the foreign leader to work with his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani Rudy GiulianiThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting CIA found Putin 'probably directing' campaign against Biden: report Democrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate MORE on the matter.

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Details of Trump's efforts were first revealed in a complaint filed by a member of the U.S. intelligence community in August, which was declassified and released the following month.