Biden White House Says They’re Not Paying Attention to Trump Case as Former President Is Arraigned

The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said that President Joe Biden is not closely following the charges against former President Donald Trump.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, Jean-Pierre stated that Biden is focused on important issues and that the Trump case is not among his priorities. The Biden administration has stated that they will not comment on ongoing investigations, and Biden himself has refused to comment on the matter.

After the arraignment hearing on Tuesday, the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office released a 16-page indictment and a 13-page statement of facts in the case against Trump. The indictment charged the former president with 34 counts of falsifying business records by making payments to people to keep negative allegations about him from being disclosed. The payment was allegedly facilitated through Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer. Cohen has since pled guilty to campaign finance violations.

While Jean-Pierre has stated that Biden has not had prior knowledge of the indictment, she acknowledged that he may catch information about the case as it plays out in the media. However, she reiterated that the president’s focus is on advancing his policies and that the Trump case is not a priority.

The White House has maintained a no-comment policy regarding the Trump case, even as reporters attempt to compare the administration’s stance on the matter to their repeated comments about the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.