A lawyer who formerly represented ex-President Donald Trump refuted his repeated claim that President Joe Biden was behind his historic "hush money" conviction — calling it "one of the most ridiculous things I've heard."
"This is not a federal prosecution. Joe Biden, or anyone from his Justice Department, have absolutely zero to do with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office," Joe Tacopina said during an appearance Sunday on MSNBC's "PoliticsNation With Al Sharpton."
Tacopina, who withdrew from the hush money case in January, said Biden and Justice Department officials had "no jurisdiction," "no contacts" and "no control, certainly" over Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
"So, to say that Joe Biden brought this case is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard," the high-profile Manhattan defense lawyer said. "We know that's not the case, and even Trump's lawyers know that's not the case."
On Thursday, a jury found Trump guilty as charged on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election to keep her from publicly claiming they had an affair in 2006.
The next day, Trump — who denies Daniels' allegation and has vowed to appeal — alleged during a news conference at his Trump Tower building in Manhattan that the prosecution was "in total conjunction with the White House and the DOJ, just so you know."
"This was all done by Biden and his people — maybe his people, more importantly. I don't know if Biden knows too much about it because I don't know if he knows too much about anything," he said.
Biden responded by saying that Trump, who didn't testify at his trial, had "every opportunity" to defend himself and called his attacks on the justice system "reckless" and "dangerous."
"It's irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict," Biden said in remarks at the White House.
Trump, the first former U.S. president indicted on criminal charges, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison at his scheduled July 11 sentencing.
The hearing is set to take place just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is expected to be nominated to challenge Biden in November.
