Biden Reacts to Trump Verdict
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
President Joe Biden has made his first public comments regarding the conviction of former President Donald Trump, emphasizing that the American principle of equality before the law had been reaffirmed.
Excel Magazine International had reported how Trump was convicted in a case concerning a “hush money” payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Speaking from the White House on Friday, Biden criticized Trump’s reaction to the guilty verdict. Trump has labeled the trial as “very unfair” and “rigged.”
“It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to claim this was ‘rigged’ simply because they dislike the verdict,” Biden stated.
“Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years and is literally the cornerstone of America. It must be respected. We should never allow anyone to undermine it. It’s as simple as that. That’s America. That’s who we are, and that’s who we’ll always be, God willing.”
Recall that a New York jury reached a verdict on Thursday, finding Trump guilty of illegally falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment made to Daniels in the days leading up to the 2016 election.
This payment was intended to silence her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump, which he denies. Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts.
Biden noted that the charges against Trump were state charges, not federal, countering accusations from Trump and his allies that the Justice Department had orchestrated the trial.
“Now he will be given the opportunity, as he should, to appeal that decision, just like everyone else has that opportunity,” Biden remarked.
Trump, the first former president to be convicted of a crime, stated on Friday that he plans to “fight” and appeal the conviction.
