President Joe Biden addressed the outcome of Donald Trump’s hush money criminal case in New York ahead of remarks at the White House on Friday, and slammed those who claimed the trial was “rigged.”
On Thursday afternoon, a jury found the former president guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in an effort to violate federal campaign finance laws.
“The American principle that 'no one is above the law' was reaffirmed,” the president said. “Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself. It was a state case, not a federal case, and it was heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you. Like millions of Americans who served on juries, this jury was chosen the same way every jury in America is chosen. It was a process that Donald Trump’s attorney was part of. The jury heard five weeks of evidence — five weeks. After careful deliberation, the jury reached a unanimous verdict: they found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts.”
“Now he’ll be given the opportunity, as he should, to appeal that decision just like everyone else has that opportunity,” Biden continued. “That’s how the American system of justice works.”
“It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict. Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years,” he added. “We should never allow anyone to tear it down.”
