Donald Trump Jr. defends Russell Brand following rape conviction

Donald Trump Jr. has defended comedian, Russell Brand following his conviction for rape and sexual assault, claiming Brand was targeted over his Christian faith and conservative views.

Speaking on his show, Triggered, Trump Jr. questioned the evidence behind the verdict and the length of Brand’s sentence.

Brand, 51, was sentenced on Monday, November 9, to 10 years and six months in prison after a jury found him guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against four women.

Trump Jr. argued that the case relied on decades old allegations dating back to 1999, with no forensic evidence, no DNA, and no police report filed at the time.

“He was convicted, by the way, with no forensic evidence, no DNA, no police report at the time, now decades old, to allegations dating back to 1999,” Trump Jr. said.

He added: “So when he was married to Katy Perry, he was one of the most famous actors in the world, no one seemed to have a problem, no one seemed to think he was a rapist then.”

Trump Jr. also questioned why Brand’s sentence was longer than sentences given to men convicted in Britain’s grooming gang cases.

The rape conviction relates to a 21-year-old fan Brand met backstage at a West London comedy show in 2009 and sexually assaulted at his home, about a year before he married Perry.

Sentencing Brand, Judge Joel Bennathan said he had shown a “casual and arrogant disregard” for women and had become a sexual predator as his fame grew.

The judge also said Brand’s testimony denying he had ever touched a woman sexually without consent was one of a series of lies.