The White House stated on June 13 that President Joe Biden was not involved in the indictment of his predecessor and chief rival for the presidency in 2024, Donald Trump, challenging critics who claimed the charges were politically motivated.
During a press conference, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the president was not involved in, or influenced any, decisions that led to the indictment of the former president.
“Not at all. He was not involved,” she said. “The President has been very, very clear. The Department of Justice is independent. He wants to restore the independence of the Department of Justice, and that’s what you’ve seen. That is why we have been very, very consistent. When it comes to criminal cases, we just do not comment.”
The former president faces 37 felony charges related to his handling of classified government documents.
Trump showed up at the federal courthouse in Miami more than an hour before his scheduled 3 p.m. arraignment on Tuesday. The case is the first time a former president of the United States is being accused of breaking federal law.
When questioned last week by reporters about whether the Justice Department (DOJ) might indict Trump for political reasons, Biden denied those claims and assured them that he was “honest.”
“You notice I have never once—not one single time—suggested to the Justice Department what they should do or not do, relative to bringing a charge or not bringing a charge. I’m honest,” he said during a joint press conference on June 8 with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the White House.
White House officials have repeatedly denied claims that the White House and the DOJ worked together on the indictment.
Principal deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton told reporters on June 9 that the president, like everyone else, learned about the indictment through the media.
“Again, we’re not going to comment on this. I will tell you, though, and confirm, as we’ve said overnight, that the president, senior staff found out just like everybody else last night. No advance knowledge that this was coming. Found out from news reports, just like everybody else across America,” she said.
Trump pleaded not guilty in Miami federal court to 37 felony charges related to his handling of classified government documents.
Trump and his supporters have denounced the charges as politically motivated, while others see them as proof that no one is above the law.
According to the indictment, Trump unlawfully maintained 31 government documents, including several classified as top secret.
The documents included “information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack,” according to the indictment.
