President Joe Biden released a statement Friday afternoon after a jury in Kenosha found 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all five charges issued by prosecutors. Rittenhouse defended himself with a firearm after he was violently attacked by a band of criminal adults last summer.
"While the verdict in Kenosha will leave many Americans feeling angry and concerned, myself included, we must acknowledge that the jury has spoken. I ran on a promise to bring Americans together, because I believe that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. I know that we’re not going to heal our country’s wounds overnight, but I remain steadfast in my commitment to do everything in my power to ensure that every American is treated equally, with fairness and dignity, under the law," Biden said.
"I urge everyone to express their views peacefully, consistent with the rule of law. Violence and destruction of property have no place in our democracy," he continued. "The White House and Federal authorities have been in contact with Governor Evers's office to prepare for any outcome in this case, and I have spoken with the Governor this afternoon and offered support and any assistance needed to ensure public safety."
Moments before issuing the official statement, Biden claimed he accepted the jury's decision. Now, he's smearing Rittenhouse again by saying he's "angry" about the decision, implying the jury came to the wrong conclusion.
Missing from the statement is an apology for smearing Rittenhouse as a white supremacist in a campaign advertisement in September 2020.
