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Joe Biden has said he does not believe his predecessor, Donald Trump, should have access to informational information because of his “erratic behavior.”
“I don’t think so,” Biden said in a Friday evening interview when CBS Evening News presenter Norah O’Donnell asked him if Trump should receive briefings.
“Because of his erratic behavior unrelated to the insurgency,” Biden said, referring to the January 6 storm of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.
Former U.S. presidents traditionally receive some intelligence information even after leaving office.
Trump frequently denigrated the intelligence community and was not known for taking lengthy reports during his tenure in the White House. The Republican faces his second impeachment trial next week, this time accused of provoking an insurrection at the Capitol by asking people to “fight” against the election results he lost.
Asked what his biggest concern would be if Trump received classified information, Biden declined.
“I prefer not to speculate out loud. I just don’t think you need to have … intelligence briefings. What value is an intelligence briefing giving you? What impact does it have, other than the fact that it could slip and say something? “Biden said.
The interview came as Congress approved a budget that would pave the way for Biden to pass his $ 1.9 million Covid-19 relief bill, though he conceded to the CBS interview who did not expect his proposal for a minimum wage hike to reach $ 15 an hour included.
“I know he won’t be there. But I think we should have a minimum, independent wage of $ 15 an hour, ”Biden told CBS.
Raising the minimum wage could affect Senate rules on reconciliation, a tool Democrats plan to use to pass the Biden coronavirus relief bill without Republican support in the tightly divided Senate.
Biden said he would be prepared to negotiate the salary increase separately and that the increase could be introduced gradually.
“No one should work 40 hours a week and live below the poverty line. And if you earn less than $ 15 an hour, you’ll live below the poverty line, “Biden said. The current federal minimum wage is $ 7.25 an hour.