President Joe Biden’s campaign has characterized the New York jury’s verdict, which found former President Trump guilty on all counts in his hush money trial, as a clear indication that “no one is above the law.”
“Donald Trump has always believed he could evade consequences for his actions intended for personal gain,” stated Michael Tyler, communications director for Biden’s campaign, in a press briefing on Thursday. “Yet, today’s verdict highlights a stark reality for the American people.”
“Regardless of his criminal status, Trump remains the presumptive Republican nominee for president,” Tyler continued. “The threat he poses to our democracy has only intensified. His campaign is increasingly focused on revenge and retribution, with promises of autocratic rule from day one and calls to disregard the Constitution to reclaim power. A second Trump presidency would lead to chaos, curtail Americans’ freedoms, and incite political violence – a future the American people will decisively reject this November.”
President Biden also made a personal appeal for campaign contributions on social media, emphasizing that keeping Trump out of the White House is crucial.
Biden’s team has been cautious in their public commentary on Trump’s numerous legal battles, with the New York hush money case being the first to reach a jury verdict and potentially the only one resolved before the next election. This case is viewed as less substantial compared to other ongoing investigations, including those led by special counsel Jack Smith regarding Trump’s handling of classified documents and election interference, as well as a separate case in Georgia on election subversion.
In a notable move, Biden’s campaign held a press conference earlier this week outside the Manhattan Criminal Court. The event featured actor Robert De Niro and Capitol Police officers Harry Dunn and Michael Fanone, who were involved in the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
“I don’t mean to alarm you – or maybe I do – but if Trump returns to the White House, we risk losing the freedoms we currently take for granted,” De Niro warned on Tuesday. “Elections as we know them would be a thing of the past.”
“If he gets back in power, he won’t leave,” De Niro added. “This is not just a warning; it’s a reality. That’s why I support the Biden-Harris campaign. Voting for Joe Biden is essential to preserving our freedoms and our humanity.”
Trump was charged last April by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg with 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Trump’s legal team has indicated plans to appeal the verdict, arguing that a fair trial was impossible in the predominantly liberal New York City.