Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said President Biden should campaign off of former President Trump’s guilty verdict in the New York hush money case.
“I think for the president, there’s a time and a place for each argument. I think on the day of the conviction, that day thereafter, I can understand the president staying above the fray and demonstrating his respect and expressing his respect for the jury system. But I think the president should be leaning into this going forward,” he said.
“His competitor is a convicted felon. And you can only imagine if the situation was reversed, they would be going after Joe Biden with a vengeance. They’re making those false claims about Joe Biden, regardless. So I think not only the president, but Democrats need to be making the case forcefully to American people.”
Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records last Thursday. Schiff reiterated that if voters want to get things done, they would not want a “convicted felon” in the White House.
“You want the country run properly, you don’t want a convicted felon to turn the Oval Office and the federal government into some kind of a racketeering operation. I think that’s a powerful case to make and certainly one supported by the verdict here,” he said.
Following the verdict, Biden’s campaign said the only way to keep Trump out of the Oval Office is to beat him at the ballot box. The campaign also labeled Trump as a “convicted felon” in a fundraising email after the verdict.
Biden’s campaign was hesitant to directly attack Trump for the hush money case as the trial in Manhattan was underway. However, in the days leading up to the verdict, the campaign held an event with actor Robert De Niro outside the courthouse to make their case as to why voters should select Biden over Trump.
Biden said Friday that Trump’s claims that the trial was “rigged” were “irresponsible” and “reckless.” The campaign also reiterated Friday that Trump’s response to his conviction should prove he “cannot be president.”