Biden says ‘dangerous’ for Trump to claim verdict rigged

Washington, United States – AFP

President Joe Biden on Friday criticized Donald Trump for claiming the US justice system was rigged after he was convicted in New York.

“It’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible, for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict,” Biden said at the White House, in his first remarks since the trial verdict.

“Our justice system, the justice system, should be respected. We should never allow anyone to tear it down.

“Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself. It was a state case, not a federal case. It was heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you. Like millions of Americans who have 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 a part of. The jury heard five weeks of evidence. Five weeks, and 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. That’s how the American system of justice works . . . . Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years and it literally is the cornerstone of America.”

Donald Trump was found guilty Thursday of all 34 charges related to his hush money trial by a New York jury, making him the first former US president to be convicted of criminal criminal charges.

The jury reached their verdict after two full days of deliberations, finding Trump guilty of covering up a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her story from being published during the 2016 presidential election and itemizing it as a business expense.