Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, slammed his GOP colleagues for their acceptance of the Hunter Biden verdict Tuesday after arguing former President Trump’s guilty verdict was the result of a rigged system.
Hunter Biden was convicted Tuesday on three counts related to failing to acknowledge drug use when purchasing a weapon.
“The contrast today is just staggering. Apparently, when a Republican is convicted, it’s weaponization. But when a Democrat is convicted — the president’s son, no less — that’s justice. I mean, give me a break. Hunter Biden was found guilty by a jury of his peers, just like Donald Trump, because this is our justice system at work,” McGovern said.
“After the verdict this morning, how can any Republican in their right mind argue that the Biden administration is weaponizing the [Justice Department] to hurt Republicans and to help Democrats? They just convicted the president’s own son,” he added, noting ongoing prosecution of Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez (N.J.) and Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas) on charges related to abusing their offices.
Following Trump’s conviction last month on 34 charges connected with concealing hush money payments to an adult film actor ahead of the 2016 election, congressional Republicans vowed to hold back funding from the Justice Department and even local prosecutors.
Some have, without evidence, claimed that the White House and Justice Department were involved with the state-level prosecution of Trump, something both have denied. The department forcefully pushed back on the claims in a letter this week noting it has no record of any communications with the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he had a three-pronged plan to take on the justice system writ large following the verdict.
Trump himself has suggested he would be justified in seeking revenge for the case if he is reelected.
President Biden said Tuesday he accepted the outcome of his son’s trial, though an appeal is said to be on the horizon.
“As I said last week, I am the President, but I am also a Dad. I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today,” President Biden said in a statement.
“As I also said last week, I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.”