Who holds a campaign event outside a criminal trial—especially with the case about to go to the jurors? Only a candidate who recognizes the prosecution as the political act that motivated it from the beginning.

Joe Biden’s campaign held a presser outside the Manhattan courtroom where Donald Trump faces criminal charges for a non-disclosure agreement. The venue had already turned into a circus, but Biden sent in a clown to complete the act: Robert DeNiro. The Oscar winning actor went on an unhinged rant about how Trump wants to “sow total chaos.” 

After spending weeks refraining from comment about the trial, Biden and his campaign suddenly feel the need to make themselves part of the story, even promising a speech from the White House after the verdict.

Clearly, Biden’s collapse in polling and rising anger over economic and security chaos has created a panic in the campaign. The campaign’s desperation reveals just how much they have to count on Democrat DAs to keep Trump from competing.

It’s not how our democracy is supposed to work.