Biden on Trump conviction: ‘Irresponsible’ to say trial was ‘rigged’
President Biden weighed in Friday on former President Trump’s verdict in his New York hush money case, saying Trump’s contention that the trial was “rigged” is “irresponsible” and “reckless.”
“It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict,” the president said.
“Our justice system should be respected, and we should never allow anyone to tear it down; it’s as simple as that,” he added.
Biden also said that it’s within Trump’s right to appeal the verdict.
“Now he’ll be given the opportunity — as he should — to appeal that decision just like everyone else has that opportunity,” Biden said. “That’s how the American system of justice works.”
A jury found Trump guilty Thursday on all counts of falsifying business records to conceal alleged affairs during his 2016 campaign. Trump has since called the trial “rigged,” vowed to appeal the case, and tore into Judge Juan Merchan and Alvin Bragg (D), the district attorney who brought the case.
On Friday, Biden stressed that Trump’s attorneys were a part of the jury selection process and that jurors heard five weeks of evidence before the verdict. He also noted that the case was heard by a New York state court while the former president has claimed the Biden administration is behind his legal issues.
“The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed. Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself. It was a state case, not a federal case,” the president said. “It was heard by a jury of 12 citizens … like millions of Americans who served on juries, this jury was chosen the same way every jury in America has chosen.”
“It was a process that Donald Trump’s attorney was part of. The jury heard five weeks of evidence,” Biden added. “They found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts.”
The president issued a short statement Thursday evening on social platform X, calling for donations to the 2024 race and saying, “There’s only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box.”
His campaign called Trump a convicted felon in its first statement after the verdict and has seized on the verdict to raise money for the 2024 race.
Following Trump’s press conference on the outcome of the case, Biden’s reelection campaign argued earlier Friday that Trump’s response to his conviction should prove he “cannot be president.”
Updated at 1:53 p.m. EDT
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