Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, criticized his Republican colleagues for accepting Hunter Biden’s verdict on Tuesday after arguing that former President Trump’s guilty verdict was the result of a fraudulent system.
Hunter Biden was convicted on Tuesday of three charges related to failing to acknowledge drug use when purchasing a gun.
“The contrast today is simply stunning. Apparently when a Republican is convicted, that’s weaponization. But when a Democrat is convicted — the president’s son, no less — that’s justice. I mean, give me a break. Hunter Biden was found guilty by a jury of his peers, just like Donald Trump, because this is our justice system at work,” McGovern said.
“After this morning’s verdict, how can any Republican in their right mind argue that the Biden administration is weaponizing the country? [Justice Department] harm Republicans and help Democrats? They just convicted the president’s own son,” he added, noting the ongoing case against Democratic Senator Bob Menendez (NJ) and Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar (Texas) on charges related to abuse of their positions.
Following Trump’s conviction last month on 34 counts related to the concealment of secret payments to an adult film actor before the 2016 election, congressional Republicans have vowed to withhold funding from the Justice Department and even local prosecutors.
Some have alleged, without evidence, that the White House and the Justice Department were involved in the state’s prosecution of Trump, something both have denied. The department forcefully rejected the claims in a letter this week, noting that it has no record of any communication with the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he had a three-pronged plan to take on the justice system in a big way after the verdict.
Trump himself suggested he would be justified in seeking revenge for the affair if he were re-elected.
President Biden said Tuesday he accepted the outcome of his son’s trial, although an appeal is on the horizon.
“As I said last week, I am the president, but I am also a father. I love our son and we are so proud of the man he is today,” President Biden said in a statement.
“As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process while Hunter considers an appeal.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
