Donald Trump Jr. claims Russell Brand's rape conviction is politically motivated

Donald Trump Jr., the son of President Donald Trump, said the conviction and 10-and-a-half-year prison term handed to comedian Russell Brand at Southwark Crown Court was politically motivated. He argued that Brand’s recent embrace of religion and conservative commentary led to the prosecution, noting that the alleged offenses date back to 1999 and that no forensic evidence or contemporaneous police report was presented.

Trump Jr. also questioned the length of the sentence, comparing it to punishments in other UK cases and suggesting a disparity with sentences given to other offenders. He said, "He finds God, I guess, changes his ways, sees some aspects of conservative life, and talks about them, and now he's going to spend 10 and a half years in prison for rape when no one had a problem with it in the prior 27 years."

London police confirmed that detectives are currently triaging new reports from additional victims and that the Crown Prosecution Service is reviewing two further rape allegations. The sentencing has prompted a response from Brand’s U.S.-based wellness brand, which began selling T-shirts featuring his image and a statement accusing authorities of trying to silence him.

Other public figures, including television host Megyn Kelly and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, have expressed criticism of the verdict, describing it as a political witch hunt and an unjust punishment.