TL/DR –
Actor Robert De Niro, representing President Biden’s campaign, attended the courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial and declared Trump guilty. The move marked a departure from Biden’s avoidance of commentary on Trump’s legal issues and could cause difficulties in navigating the campaign’s response to a potential verdict. De Niro appeared alongside two former Capitol Police officers to draw attention to Trump’s actions leading up to the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and highlighted the former President’s pending charges in both Manhattan and federal cases.
Biden Campaign Dispatches Robert De Niro Amid Trump’s Legal Crisis
President Biden, who has principally avoided Donald J. Trump’s legal issues, sent actor Robert De Niro to the Manhattan courthouse where Trump’s first criminal trial is concluding.
De Niro declared that Trump was guilty, regardless of the potential jury verdict.
“Whatever the outcome, he is guilty, and we all know it,” De Niro announced amidst a turbulent group of Trump supporters.
The actor’s declaration of Trump’s guilt, which departs from Biden’s previous stance, may complicate the Biden campaign’s response to the verdict.
The conference aimed to spotlight Trump’s actions leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack and his indictment for falsifying business records tied to a hush-money payment made before the 2016 election.
Ex-Capitol Police officers Harry Dunn and Michael Fanone, who have criticized Trump over the Jan. 6 mob violence, joined De Niro, the voice behind the latest campaign ad.
Trump’s camp utilized the Biden news conference to attack De Niro and the campaign itself, arguing it was a desperate attempt to boost Biden’s poll numbers.
“They’ve finally done it,” said Jason Miller, a senior advisor to the Trump campaign. “They made this trial about politics with a campaign event.”
The Biden campaign, however, stated it was not there to comment on the case, but due to the media attention it was garnering.
Throughout the trial, press conferences have been met with demonstrations and heckling from pro-Trump supporters stationed nearby.
“You are gangsters!” De Niro yelled at the Trump supporters amidst heated exchanges.
Trump’s campaign accused Biden’s campaign of turning the criminal case into a political spectacle. “They’re pathetic,” retorted Karoline Leavitt, press secretary for Trump’s campaign.
Later, Trump’s family held their news conference outside the courthouse.
Lara Trump capitalized on the occasion to fundraise, stating, “If they can profit off it, so can we: donaldjtrump.com.”
Donald Trump Jr. also criticized De Niro, accusing him of seeking attention and stating this trial is a political persecution.
Despite the jeers from Trump supporters, De Niro remained defiant. “We are going to fight back,” he announced, reflecting Biden’s campaign message.
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