White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki pointed at former President Donald Trump on Friday when asked about President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris promoting convicted felon Jussie Smollett’s hate crime hoax back in 2019.
“Both the president and vice president tweeted at the time of the attack,” a reporter said during the White House press breifing. “The President tweeted: ‘What happened to @JussieSmollett must never be tolerated in this country.’ ‘We are with you, Jussie.’ The Vice President called it an ‘attempted modern-day lynching.’”
“Since the guilty verdict, are there any lessons learned here on rushing to judgment when a crime is alleged?” the reporter asked.
“I think there are lessons learned perhaps for everybody who commented at the time, including former President Trump,” Psaki responded. “I wish April Ryan was here because I think she asked him the question.”
As Psaki noted, Trump was asked by a reporter to respond to Smollett’s claims, whereas Biden and Harris put out statements on Twitter about the incident.
“You know, if you look back at the time — it’s also true and important to note that accusations of hate crimes should be taken seriously, and they need to be fully investigated,” Psaki added. “But that’s where everybody was looking at it at the time. But certainly knowing what we know now, it’s important to also note the danger of lying to police and lying about hate crimes and the fact that it diverts important resources.”
WATCH:
.@JacquiHeinrich: "On the #JussieSmollett verdict. Both [Biden] & [Harris] tweeted at the time of the attack…Since the guilty verdict, are there any lessons learned…in rushing to judgment when a crime is alleged?"
Psaki: "There are lessons learned…for everyone who" spoke! pic.twitter.com/bP4mUunNZB
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 10, 2021
TRANSCRIPT:
REPORTER And then one real quick one on the Jussie Smollett verdict. Both the president and vice president tweeted at the time of the attack. The president tweeted: “What happened to @JussieSmollett must never be tolerated in this country.” “We are with you, Jussie.” The vice president called it an “attempted modern-day lynching.”
Since the guilty verdict, are there any lessons learned here on rushing to judgment when a crime is alleged?
JEN PSAKI, PRESS SECRETARY: I think there are lessons learned perhaps for everybody who commented at the time, including former President Trump. I wish April Ryan was here because I think she asked him the question. Do I see her somewhere, or no? Okay.
REPORTER: She just left.
PSAKI: She just left!
Where he said, “I can tell you that it’s horrible. It’s doesn’t get worse,” in response to her question about the trial — about the — about Jussie Smollett at the time.
I would say that we respect the jury’s decision. Lying to the police, particularly about something as heinous as a hate crime, is shameful. Instances of that need to be investigated fully. And those found guilty need to be punished. And false accusations divert valuable police resources away from important investigations. They make it harder for real victims to come forward and be believed.
You know, if you look back at the time — it’s also true and important to note that accusations of hate crimes should be taken seriously, and they need to be fully investigated.
But that’s where everybody was looking at it at the time. But certainly knowing what we know now, it’s important to also note the danger of lying to police and lying about hate crimes and the fact that it diverts important resources.