No pressure on me to probe Biden: Ukraine's prosecutor

By Dmitri Chirciu

KIEV (AA) - Ukraine’s chief public prosecutor on Friday said no politician pressured him on investigating former U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

This came after the U.S. House of Representatives began its impeachment investigation into Trump over accusations of using military aid as leverage to have Ukrainian officials to investigate Biden and his son over claims of corruption.

"Neither an Ukrainian, nor a foreign politician pressured me to influence the investigation process," Ruslan Ryabosapka said in a press briefing in Kiev.

Ryabosapka said the previously prepared investigation documents are being audited to find out if there was a violation of law.

Another Ukrainian official had previously said the investigation regarding the energy company Burisma, where Hunter Biden had served on the board, was closed in 2017 after no evidence was found in a two-year investigation.

U.S. President Donald Trump also tweeted over the issue on Friday and said : "The Ukrainian President also strongly stated that NO pressure was put on him. Case Closed!"

Trump acknowledged asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden and his son during a July 25 telephone call that has become the foundation for the House's impeachment investigation against Trump.

Joe Biden is a clear political rival to Trump as the leading Democratic candidate heading into next year's presidential elections.

* Writing and contribution by Fatih Hafiz Mehmet in Ankara