Kamala Harris stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live and took the opportunity to reflect on former president Donald Trump‘s recent felony conviction. In a lengthy, broad-ranging interview, Harris acknowledged that she believes people should be held accountable for their crimes, regardless of who they are.
“Let’s think about this: A jury of 12 people, peers, over the course of six weeks, deliberated on the evidence and facts and unanimously determined guilt on 34 felony counts,” the vice president told host Jimmy Kimmel. “There was a defense attorney who actively participated in selecting that jury, who actively made decisions about witnesses to call, witnesses to cross examine. And the jury made their decision and, you know, I think that the reality is cheaters don’t like getting caught and being held accountable.”
She added, “The reality is, let’s just fast forward again to November. I think the American people want to know that there is a president who believes they are accountable to the people. And also a president who the people can count on.”
Elsewhere in the interview Harris spoke about reproductive rights in America and cannabis legalization, during which Kimmel asked if she was aware of the strain named for her: Kamala Kush. “Seriously, I did not know this,” Harris confirmed. She added, “I think we both agree people shouldn’t have to go to jail for smoking weed.”
Kimmel also inquired whether Harris has “ever been bitten by the president’s dog” and whether she uses her security clearance to request documents about UFOs. She replied that she has not been bitten, but has been interested in several subjects like UFOs and the JFK assassination. Kimmel then asked, “Who curses more, you or Joe Biden?” “That’s one of the national secrets that I cannot share with you,” Harris said.
Towards the end of the conversation, Kimmel wondered whether there was anything Trump could do to him personally if he is re-elected. “In all seriousness, Jimmy, you’re right to bring this up,” Harris replied. “He has been very clear. He intends to weaponize the Department of Justice against his political enemies. He admires dictators and says he’ll be a dictator on day one.”
Kimmel responded to the idea of “weaponizing” the Department of Justice, which Trump and Republicans have accused Biden of doing.
“Whatever he does, it’s classic projection and he will say ‘You’re doing it,’ when he’s doing everything or he intends to do it,” Kimmel said. “If President Biden has weaponized the justice system, why doesn’t he get his son out of the trial? Hunter is currently on trial. Couldn’t he just snap his weaponized fingers and get him right out of that?”
Harris replied, “To your point, the former president is a hypocrite, and will apply one set of standards to himself and another to others.”
Last week, a jury in New York found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records stemming from a payment to keep adult film actress Stormy Daniels quiet about an alleged affair out of fear that it would hurt his chances of winning the 2016 election. The jury began deliberating on Tuesday before returning the verdict Thursday afternoon. They were unanimous in their decision, which took them about 7.5 hours to reach. Kimmel previously reacted to the verdict on his show, saying the jury “spanked” Trump harder than Daniels did.