President Joe Biden did not have much to say about a jury finding his predecessor guilty of dozens of felony counts.
On Friday, Biden spoke about the situation in the Middle East. However, at the beginning of his statements, he said former President Donald Trump has the right to appeal his guilty verdict in his hush money case, and suggested he should.
And at the end of his remarks, a reporter asked, “Trump refers to himself as a political prisoner and blames you directly. What’s your response to that, sir?”
Biden walked away from the lectern. At one point, he turned around as though he was going to responded.
However, he just smiled and then walked out of the room.
Watch the video below:
On Thursday, Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an attempt to cover up a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
Conservatives have criticized the case and alleged it was an example of selective prosecution against Trump.
Additionally, they have took issue with the legal theory of the case which bumped the charges up from misdemeanors to felonies on the basis that business records were falsified in furtherance of another crime. And while the prosecution did not precisely make clear what the other crime was, it argued the falsification was done in furtherance of a campaign finance violation in closing arguments.
After the verdict, Trump delivered brief remarks from the courthouse.
“This is a rigged disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people,” he told reporters.
Yet, during remarks on Friday, Biden said, “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, and it literally is the cornerstone of American. The justice system should be respected, and we should never anyone to tear it down, it’s as simple as that. That’s America. That’s who we are. And that’s who we’ll always be, God willing,” he added.
