After former-President Donald Trump was indicted on Thursday, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) released a statement saying Trump now has the chance to “prove his innocence.” Pelosi was widely criticized for her comments, which stand in opposition to the American legal standard of “innocent until proven guilty.” President Joe Biden, on the other hand, refused to comment on the historic development.
“The Grand Jury has acted upon the facts and the law,” Pelosi wrote on Twitter. “No one is above the law, and everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence. Hopefully, the former President will peacefully respect the system, which grants him that right.”
When asked about whether Trump’s indictment is politically motivated, President Biden said he has “no comment on Trump.”
A grand jury in Manhattan, New York, voted to indict Trump on Thursday. The indictment stems from a case centering on Trump’s alleged 2016 attempts to buy the silence of adult film star Stormy Daniels.
This is the first time in American history that a former president will face criminal charges. Because the charges have been filed under seal, it is unclear what the charges will be.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is leading the case against Trump, previously ruled out a virtual arraignment, Fox New reported.
This was a breaking news story. The details were periodically updated as more information became available.
