President Biden on Friday weighed in on former President Trump’s verdict in his New York silence case, saying Trump’s claim that the trial was “rigged” is “irresponsible” and “reckless.”
“It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for someone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict,” said the president.
“Our justice system must be respected and we must never allow anyone to overthrow it, it’s that simple,” he added.
Biden also said it was Trump’s right to appeal the verdict.
“Now he will have the opportunity — as he should — to appeal this decision, just like everyone else has that opportunity,” Biden said. “This is how the American justice system works.”
A jury found Trump guilty on all counts of falsifying business records to hide alleged affairs during his 2016 campaign on Thursday. Trump has since called the trial “rigged,” vowed to appeal the case, and attacked Judge Juan Merchan and the district attorney who brought the case, Alvin Bragg (D).
Biden emphasized Friday that Trump’s lawyers were 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 in New York state court, while the former president claimed that the Biden administration is behind his legal issues.
“The American principle that no one is above the law has been reaffirmed. Donald Trump had every opportunity to defend himself. It was a state case, not a federal one,” said the president. “It was heard by a jury of 12 citizens…like millions of Americans who have served on juries, this jury was chosen the same way all juries in America have chosen.”
“It was a process that Donald Trump’s lawyer was part of. The jury heard five weeks of evidence,” Biden added. “They found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 criminal counts.”
The president issued a brief statement on Thursday night on social platformasking for donations for the 2024 race and saying, “There’s only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the polls.”
His campaign called Trump a convicted felon in his first statement after the verdict and used 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 Friday that Trump’s response to his conviction should prove he “cannot be president.”
Updated at 1:53 pm EDT
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
