Donald Trump shared his thoughts about the recent indictment of one officer in the Breonna Taylor case. During a press conference on Wednesday (Sep. 23), a reporter asked the president did he believe justice was served in Taylor’s death and what was his message to the Black community who believe that justice was not served for the young woman.
“Well, my message is that I love the Black community,” Trump replied. “I’ve done more for the Black community than any other president, and I say — with a possible exception of Abraham Lincoln. And mean that with opportunities … and with criminal justice reform, with prison reform, with what we’ve done for historically Black universities, colleges, schools, what we’ve done — nobody has done more.”
“Abraham Lincoln, let’s give him the nod,” he added. “But beyond that, nobody’s done more. I love the Black community.”
He then switched gears and answered the original question about the indictment from the reporter. “I don’t know enough about it,” Trump said. “I heard a decision was just made. We’ve been together here, and so we haven’t discussed it. But after I see what the decision is, I will have a comment on it.”
Trump said that he will review the indictment before his next press conference at 6 pm ET.
After more than six months, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron finally announced his decision in the investigation of the shooting death of Taylor. Former Louisville officer Brett Hankison was hit with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree for “blindly” firing into several other apartments during the shooting.
If convicted, Hankison could face up to five years in prison. A warrant for his arrest will be issued. His bond will be set for $15,000. Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove were not charged for their involvement, although Cameron said that Cosgrove fired the shot which ultimately killed Taylor.
The attorney general also said that Mattingly and Cosgrove were “justified” in their use of force. Under a self-defense law, the officers were exempt from criminal charges because Taylor’s boyfriend fired at them first.
Watch Trump speak about the case below.