Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary, had a great laugh after a reporter asked her if President Biden thought it was “appropriate” for someone who is indicted to run for office.
CNN reporter MJ Lee asked the question during the daily White House briefing. It was clearly a reference to former President Donald Trump who faces possible indictment by a Manhattan grand jury regarding his 2016 hush money scandal involving pornstar Stormy Daniels.
“So, nice way to ask MJ. Very clever,” Jean-Pierre said as she laughed following the question, before declining to answer.
“So, I’m going, again, to be really careful from now on as it pertains to any upcoming election. In particular, I assume you are referring to the 2024 election. Because we are covered under the Hatch Act, I won’t give any analysis, foresight, or thoughts. She said that she would not speak to politics and that she would leave it at that.
Trump raised the alarm on Saturday in a Truth Social posting that he might be arrested Tuesday as part of the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s investigation into the scandal. According to a law enforcement source, an indictment will not be filed until next week in order to give time for additional police to put up barriers, set up lights and turn on generators.
Trump supporters began to flock to Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Tuesday. Some of Trump’s most passionate supporters wore cowboy hats and American flag suits while gathered along Palm Beach Road to the estate. Many held signs with messages, including, “I Stand With Pres. Donald J. Trump,” “Drain the Swamp Vote Trump 2024” and “Trump Won. Democrats Cheat.”