WATCH: Tim Kaine rejects claims Karmelo Anthony verdict was racist
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said he has a "hard time understanding" claims that the guilty verdict in Karmelo Anthony's murder trial was unfair or racially motivated, distancing himself from some...
By Fox News · Fox News
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said he has a "hard time understanding" claims that the guilty verdict in Karmelo Anthony's murder trial was unfair or racially motivated, distancing himself from some Democrats and activists who have criticized the outcome of the case. "I have a hard time understanding why they would say that," Kaine said when asked about claims from some Democrats that Anthony's guilty verdict was unfair or racially charged. The Virginia Democrat’s comments come after protests and online criticism emerged following Tuesday’s verdict. Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being found guilty of intentionally stabbing and murdering Austin Metcalf. Kaine's comments stand in contrast with remarks from Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas , who has publicly described Anthony as a "scared Black boy" and argued he was not shown enough "mercy" following the verdict. AUSTIN METCALF'S DAD EXPRESSES EMPATHY FOR KARMELO ANTHONY AS KILLER'S PARENTS SAY 'THEY DID A NUMBER ON US' Fox News Digital asked Kaine his thoughts on Democrats, like Crockett, claiming the trial was unfair because of the belief that the verdict was racially motivated or that Anthony was not given a fair trial because of his race. "I know what they’re saying, but I have a hard time understanding," Kaine reiterated. KARMELO ANTHONY TRIAL BEGINS WITH NO BLACK JURORS IN RACIALLY-CHARGED CASE OVER TRACK MEET STABBING Crockett took to her podcast, "Clock it with Crockett," 19 hours after Anthony was found guilty in court. During the episode, she criticized the racial makeup of the jury and claimed the knife that Anthony used to stab Metcalf to his death was "not a deadly weapon." "I would argue the size of it alone, you wouldn’t even think it’s a deadly weapon," Crockett said about the murder weapon that was discovered and confirmed to be the knife used to pierce Metcalf’s heart, leading to his death on the scene. She claimed the jurors were all "White folk," and sources close to the trial told Fox N…