Psaki: We Can’t Comment On Rittenhouse Case, But Biden Opposes ‘Vigilantes’ With ‘Assault Rifles’

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki claimed during Monday’s press conference that she couldn’t speak to the ongoing court case involving Kyle Rittenhouse but then immediately followed that statement by saying that President Joe Biden opposes “vigilantes patrolling our communities with assault weapons.”

“We shouldn’t have opportunists corrupting peaceful protests by rioting and burning down the communities they claim to represent anywhere in the country,” she said. “As you know, closing arguments in this particular case — which I’m not speaking to; I’m just making broad comments about his own view — there’s an ongoing trial. We’re awaiting a verdict. Beyond that, I’m not going to speak to any individuals or this case.”

Psaki refused to address allegations from Rittenhouse’s mother that Biden defamed her son as a white supremacist to help secure votes during the election.

REPORTER #1: And then just something tied to an ongoing court case.  Why did President Biden suggest that Kyle Rittenhouse, on trial in Kenosha, is a white supremacist?

PSAKI:  So, Peter, what I — I’m not going to speak to right now is anything about an ongoing trial nor the President’s past comments. 

What I can reiterate for you is the President’s view that we shouldn’t have, broadly speaking, vigilantes patrolling our communities with assault weapons.  We shouldn’t have opportunists corrupting peaceful protests by rioting and burning down the communities they claim to represent anywhere in the country.

As you know, closing arguments in this particular case — which I’m not speaking to; I’m just making broad comments about his own view — there’s an ongoing trial.  We’re awaiting a verdict.  Beyond that, I’m not going to speak to any individuals or this case.

REPORTER #1: But the President has spoken to it already.  And his mom now — Kyle Rittenhouse’s mom came out saying that the President defamed her son and that claims — she claims that when the President suggested her son is a white supremacist, he was doing that to win votes.  Is that what happened?

PSAKI:  I just have nothing more to speak to an ongoing case where the closing arguments were just made.

Go ahead.

REPORTER #2: Given the National Guard is on standby though in Wisconsin right now, Jen, does the White House or the President have any message to those who may stir up trouble, regardless of the outcome at the end of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial?

PSAKI:  Well, I can give you a little bit of