WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden refused on Friday to comment on the indictment of former president Donald Trump, who became the first ex-US leader to face criminal charges. President Biden deliberately did not reply to several questions on the matter from reporters gathered to witness his departure from the White House.
The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg confirmed that it had contacted Donald Trump’s team of lawyers Thursday to “coordinate his surrender” — with the criminal charges against him to be exposed at that point.
Donald Trump, who is seen to be the Republican favorite in the 2024 elections, criticized the indictment as “political persecution and interference in elections,” furious against prosecutors and his Democratic rivals.
US President Biden’s media talks
Trump also vowed that it would backfire on President Biden — who wants to run again to stay in Washington. The impact of an indictment on former president Trump’s election chances is unpredictable, with critics and opponents alike voicing concerns about the legal merits of the case.
Critics worry that if Donald Trump were cleared, it could make it easier to discharge as a “witch hunt” any future prosecution in arguably more serious affairs — such as Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 elections results.
The Manhattan charges will also likely sap the crowd among Trump’s base, increasing his chances in the party primary.
