Biden Speaks At Harris Event In Philadelphia
President Joe Biden stirred the political pot during a rally in Philadelphia by hinting at the possibility of seeing former President Donald Trump imprisoned. His comments came just hours after Vice President Kamala Harris warned, in a separate interview, that Trump would likely use the Department of Justice to go after his political rivals if re-elected. Biden’s pointed remarks painted a stark picture of the 2024 election battle as one not just of policies but of personal stakes.
Speaking to a crowd of Harris supporters, Biden didn’t mince words about Trump’s legal troubles. He pointed to Trump’s liability in a defamation and sexual abuse case involving $83 million, his role in the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and the multiple legal challenges Trump is facing. “Donald Trump is not running for you,” Biden said. “He’s running to stay out of jail.”
The comment underscored the seriousness of Trump’s 34 felony charges, which stem from his alleged mishandling of payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels as part of a legal non-disclosure agreement. These charges, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, have been the subject of significant legal scrutiny, with many critics predicting an eventual reversal on appeal.
Biden says he wants to see Trump in prison: “He has three other major cases waiting for him when he loses. He got the sentence kicked back, but I want to watch that sentence.” pic.twitter.com/U2OYXzDw1k
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) October 16, 2024
Biden’s words followed Harris’ interview on The Breakfast Club with Charlamagne tha God, where she echoed concerns about Trump’s potential return to the White House. Harris painted a picture of a future where Trump would “weaponize” the Department of Justice against political foes. She warned that if Trump were re-elected, he would remove independent actors from the DOJ and replace them with loyalists, creating a dangerous precedent for democracy.
Charlamagne took her statement a step further, quipping that Trump would “lock y’all up” if he wins. Harris, without skipping a beat, responded, pointing out that Trump’s tactics are more akin to those of authoritarian regimes, which use the justice system to silence opponents, journalists, and even judges.
The irony of Harris’ warning wasn’t lost on critics. For years, Trump and his supporters have argued that he’s been the target of politically motivated prosecutions orchestrated by the Department of Justice and Democratic district attorneys. Trump’s legal battles, from the charges in New York to his ongoing struggles with federal investigations related to January 6 and classified documents, are viewed by many of his backers as attempts to derail his 2024 campaign.
The charges surrounding the non-disclosure agreement with Stormy Daniels, for example, have raised eyebrows. The legal case rests on whether the payments made were improperly reported as campaign expenditures. Critics argue that this case, overseen by Bragg, is shaky at best. Some have even drawn comparisons to Harris herself, suggesting that by the same legal standards, her husband Doug Emhoff could face similar scrutiny for payments he made to a former nanny in relation to an affair that ended his first marriage.
Biden, too, has faced criticism for his influence over the Department of Justice. In the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riot, Biden made a controversial statement suggesting that he hoped the DOJ would prosecute the protesters involved. He later walked back his comments, admitting on CNN that his remarks were inappropriate.