White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre recently claimed President Joe Biden restored the rule of law after the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced former President Donald Trump as a target in the department’s investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, protests.
During a recent press conference, a reporter asked Jean-Pierre how she felt about the weaponization of government against Biden’s leading 2024 political opponent.
“Former President Trump received a letter from the special counsel that he’s being investigated for his role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election,” the reporter asked. “House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says the Biden administration has decided to ‘weaponize government to go after their number one opponent,’—” Jean-Pierre cut the reporter off before he finished the question.
“Here’s what we have done,” Jean-Pierre began. “The President respects the Department of Justice, their independence. He has been very, very steadfast on making sure that the rule of law comes back in this administration, comes back in the White House, and clearly the administration more broadly, and that’s what you have seen.”
“I’m just not going to comment on this particular case,” she added.
KARINE JEAN-PIERRE on accusations Biden has weaponized the federal government against political opponents:
"The president respects the Department of Justice, their independence. He has been very steadfast on making sure that the rule of law comes back in this administration." pic.twitter.com/ql4gHnJIHo
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 18, 2023
Trump recently announced that “deranged” Special Counsel Jack Smith notified him that he would be a target in the DOJ’s investigation of Jan. 6. On Truth Social, Trump wrote he must appear before the department’s grand jury in four days, pointing out that his appearance likely means Smith will indict him.
“Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before, or even close…THIS WITCH HUNT IS ALL ABOUT ELECTION INTERFERENCE AND A COMPLETE AND TOTAL POLITICAL WEAPONIZATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT! It is a very sad and dark period for our Nation!” Trump wrote.
Republicans immediately decried the department’s persecution of Trump and voiced their support for the former president.
“President Trump just increased his lead in the polls. So, what does the Biden Administration do next?” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said. “Weaponize government to go after President Biden’s number one opponent. This is not equal justice. It’s wrong, and the American public is tired of it.”
“That’s the only way the Democrats have to beat President Trump,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said, referring to the DOJ’s targeting of Trump.
Smith’s investigation into Jan. 6 relates to Trump’s efforts to look into the 2020 presidential election. Smith has already criminally charged Trump relating to the former president’s possession of classified documents.
