President Joe Biden assured that he has never exerted any influence over the Department of Justice’s investigation into his predecessor.
Biden faced inquiries regarding this issue after an event alongside British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, amidst growing speculation about the possibility of the Justice Department bringing charges against former President Donald Trump.
“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,” Biden said. “I’m honest.”
He then tapped the podium before him twice and walked off the stage.
During the concluding moments of the press conference, a reporter posed a question to President Biden, raising concerns about the public’s trust in the Justice Department due to potential conflicts of interest.
The reporter inquired, “How can you assure the American people that they should have confidence in the impartiality and integrity of the Justice Department, especially when your predecessor, Donald Trump, consistently criticizes its actions?”
According to reports, special counsel Jack Smith has concluded his investigation into Trump’s handling of classified information, leading to speculation about possible charges that may be brought forward by the Justice Department.
There is speculation that Trump could potentially face federal criminal indictments as early as the following week. The charges are likely to be explored under the Espionage Act, with multiple avenues for the special counsel to consider.
If Trump is indeed indicted, it would mark the first instance of a former president facing federal prosecution in the history of the United States, carrying significant implications for his potential 2024 presidential campaign.
Trump vehemently denied being informed by the DOJ about the case, dismissing it as a “witch hunt” and maintaining his innocence.
“No one has told me I’m being indicted, and I shouldn’t be because I’ve done NOTHING wrong, but I have assumed for years that I am a Target of the WEAPONIZED DOJ & FBI,” Trump wrote. “A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE & ELECTION INTERFERENCE AT A LEVEL NEVER SEEN BEFORE. REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS MUST MAKE THIS THEIR # 1 ISSUE!!!”
Biden’s son, Hunter, revealed he is under federal investigation for his taxes shortly after the 2020 election as U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Trump-appointed holdover and the Delaware prosecutor, is overseeing the case. Republicans have complained of a “double standard” in how the DOJ is treating Hunter Biden’s case versus Trump’s.
