Karine Jean-Pierre slammed as 'stupid' for saying Trump's hush money trial followed Biden's DOJ timeline

WASHINGTON, DC: On Monday, June 17, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre found herself in the spotlight after suggesting that the criminal case against former president Donald Trump was filed on the “timeline” of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The eyebrow-raising comment quickly garnered attention and criticism, leading to Jean-Pierre clarifying her statement shortly after.

Karine Jean-Pierre fumbles during press briefing

During her regular press briefing, Karine Jean-Pierre was questioned about the perception that the case against Donald Trump was politically motivated, given that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, an elected Democrat, brought charges nearly seven years after the former president allegedly paid Stormy Daniels to keep silent about an affair.

“The president talks about threats to democracy,” Fox Business reporter Edward Lawrence said. “How is it not a threat to democracy when you have a prosecutor from the same political party as the president waiting seven years … to prosecute in an election year a former president who is now an opponent?” Lawrence asked.

Jean-Pierre responded, "That’s a question for the Department of Justice on their timeline and how this moves. I can’t answer that for you here."

The Justice Department has consistently denied involvement in Bragg’s decision to bring the case.

Jean-Pierre later told the New York Post that she had misspoken and meant to refer to Bragg, not the DOJ when answering Lawrence's question. Despite this clarification, the statement had already made waves.

Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt seized on the moment, stating, “This wasn’t a misspeak as the White House claims, this was another example of KJP not knowing what the hell is going on, just like her boss, Crooked Joe.”

The controversy surrounding the prosecution's timing was further fueled by comments from Federal Elections Commission (FEC) member Trey Trainor, who testified before the House Judiciary Committee.

Trainor argued that Bragg "usurped" federal law and the jurisdiction of Congress by applying federal campaign law in his charges against Trump.

"By pursuing charges related to alleged violations of federal campaign finance laws, Mr Bragg has effectively usurped the jurisdiction that Congress has explicitly reserved for federal authorities," Trainor said in his opening statement.

"This overreach not only undermines the statutory framework established by FECA but also sets a troubling precedent for the politicization of legal proceedings at the state level," he added. 

Trainor's testimony underscored a broader concern about the politicization of legal proceedings at the state level, particularly those involving federal election laws. "The dangerous precedent of local prosecutorial overreach in matters of federal concern must not be left unaddressed," he told lawmakers.

The case against Donald Trump

Donald Trump was convicted on May 30 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to Daniels, which was allegedly intended to buy her silence about an affair that occurred in 2006. The sentencing for these convictions is scheduled for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Trump has maintained that the case against him is "rigged" and politically motivated, aiming to hinder his expected rematch against President Biden on November 5.

He has pointed to the involvement of former Biden DOJ official Michael Colangelo, who joined Bragg’s office to prosecute the case, as well as the political connections of Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial.

The case in Manhattan is just one of several legal challenges facing the former president. Trump is also dealing with federal charges for allegedly mishandling classified documents and attempting to challenge the results of the 2020 election. Additionally, he faces state charges in Georgia related to election interference.

The timelines for these cases remain uncertain as Trump navigates his political future.

Karine Jean-Pierre mocked online for the gaffe

Karine Jean-Pierre was trolled on social media for saying the case against Donald Trump was filed on the DOJ's “timeline."

"Holy crap! Biden DOJ controlled Trump NYC prosecution. The empty-headed DEI hire just let the cat out of the proverbial bag!" one posted on X.

"Oops," another wrote.

"Haha. She didn’t even realize what she gave away," someone else offered.

"She's too stupid to even know what she said," a comment read.

"Wow, I had to see that for myself. These people are simply incredible," another chimed in.

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