Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, on Tuesday argued that former President Trump’s conviction was the result of a rigged system and blasted his Republican colleagues for accepting Hunter Biden’s conviction.
Hunter Biden was convicted Tuesday on three charges related to his failure to admit to using drugs when purchasing weapons.
“The contrast today is shocking. Apparently, when a Republican is convicted, it’s weaponized. But when a Democrat is convicted, and the president’s son is convicted, that’s justice. No joke. Hunter Biden was convicted by a jury of his peers, just like Donald Trump. This is how our justice system works,” McGovern said.
“After this morning’s verdict, can any sane Republican claim that the Biden administration is using the Justice Department as a weapon to hurt Republicans and help Democrats? They just convicted the president’s own son,” he added, referring to the ongoing prosecution of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-J.D.) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) on charges related to abuse of power.
Republican lawmakers have vowed to withhold funding from the Justice Department and even local district attorneys’ offices following President Trump’s 34-count conviction for concealing hush money payments to porn stars before the 2016 election.
Some have alleged, without evidence, that the White House and Department of Justice were involved in state-level prosecutions, a claim both departments deny. The Department of Justice strongly denied the allegations in a letter noting that it had not been in contact with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
And House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said in response to the verdict he has a three-pronged plan to take a full stand against the justice system.
Trump himself has suggested he would be justified in seeking revenge for the incident if re-elected.
President Biden said Tuesday he would accept the trial’s outcome, though his son’s legal team said they would appeal the verdict.
“As I said last week, I am president, but I’m also a father. I love my son and am so proud of the person he has become,” Biden said in a statement.
“As I said last week, I accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Mr. Hunter considers his appeal.”
