One of the basic rights Americans have under the standards of law is to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in the courts, but Rep. Nancy Pelosi has turned that around, saying that former President Donald Trump, like “everyone,” has the right to prove himself innocent.
“The grand jury has acted upon the facts and the law,” the former House speaker posted on her Twitter account Thursday night about Trump and his legal battle. “No one is above the law, and everyone has the right to a trial to prove innocence. Hopefully, the former President will peacefully respect the system, which grants him that right.”
Her comments came after reports Thursday that Trump was indicted on several charges related to hush money paid by his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to adult film performer Stormy Daniels about her claims to have had an affair with Trump, which he denies.
Republicans with the House Judiciary Committee Thursday pushed back at Pelosi, reminding her about how the law works in the United States.
“NOT HOW IT WORKS,” they posted on their House Judiciary GOP Twitter account. “You don’t “prove innocence” in America. You’re innocent until proven guilty. You’d think the FORMER Speaker would know that.”
Twitter added a disclaimer to Pelosi’s comments, posting a link to the Cornell School of Law’s explanation of the presumption of innocence, and writing that “Ms. Pelosi mistakenly says that Trump can prove his innocence at trial. Law in the US assumes the innocence of a defendant and the prosecution must prove guilt for a conviction.”
Several Republicans pushed back at Pelosi’s comments, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, also an ex-U.S. attorney and personal attorney to Trump.
He wrote on Twitter that her comment was “wrong. So obviously wrong. Most Middle Schoolers know this – at least they used to, when civics and the Constitution was respected in schools. You’re innocent until proven guilty.”
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