Kamala Harris Believes Donald Trump Should Be Held Accountable – Vice President Kamala Harris has broken the White House’s policy of silence over the legal battles facing former president Donald Trump.
Facing four indictments and 91 combined charges, Trump’s legal dramas have been met with relative silence from the Biden administration so far this year.
This is in spite of the fact that Trump is the likely Republican candidate in next year’s election, where he – if nominated – face off against incumbent President Joe Biden.
However, Kamala Harris’ remarks at the US-ASEAN summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, marked a notable shift away from the existing White House policy over former president Trump.
What Did Kamala Harris Say?
The Vice President called for “accountability” for the events of January 6, 2021, for which Trump is facing criminal prosecution. “Let the evidence, the facts, take it where it may,” she told the Associated Press in an interview at the summit.
Harris, a former Attorney General in California, added: “I spent the majority of my career as a prosecutor. I believe that people should be held accountable under the law. And when they break the law, there should be accountability. And I support it when it happens.”
After being pressed on whether that would extend to Trump – who was indicted twice in August alone – Harris said: “Well, everyone has their right to their day in court, but absolutely, people should be held accountable, but under our system of law, right? Let the evidence and facts take it where it may.”
The White House has sought to steer clear of any involvement in Trump’s legal woes – a sensible strategy given the 77-year-old’s repeated claims that he is the subject of a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
Previous Remarks
President Biden has largely kept his views to himself over the man he is likely to face in next year’s election.
He – nor a White House official – has made a formal statement over his indictments so far.
However, in July 2022, Biden castigated his predecessor for his lack of action over the attack on the Capitol.
“Every day we rely on law enforcement to save lives. Then, on January 6, we relied on law enforcement to save our democracy,” Biden said in remarks virtually to a conference for Black law enforcement officials. “We saw what happened: the Capitol Police, the DC Metropolitan Police, other law enforcement agencies were attacked and assaulted before our very eyes. Speared. Sprayed. Stomped on. Brutalized. Lives were lost.”
“And for three hours, the defeated former President of the United States watched it all happen as he sat in the comfort of the private dining room next to the Oval Office. While he was doing that, brave law enforcement officers were subject to the medieval hell for three hours, dripping in blood, surrounded by carnage,” Biden added at the time.
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist based in Canada. He has written for the Western Standard, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo, and has covered notable events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
