I don't see much difference between "this poor woman is just doing what her lawyers say to keep her job and get a sympathetic jury" and "this lifelong politician is just saying those things to the Black community to win reelection".
Difference in scale. A normal, middle class person who was the victim of a crime and a hate mob saying certain things to try to get ahead of her career being destroyed should not be treated the same as rich, powerful politician making statements about society that will affect society in order to continue being rich and powerful. I’m not exactly rushing to leap to her defense—I think it more than likely she’s getting exactly what she’s always supported—but on the chance that she’s not, the incentives and compulsions and consequences on and of her statements right now cannot be compared as though she were a senator endorsing crime and racism so she can keep riding the gravy train.
Difference in scale. A normal, middle class person who was the victim of a crime and a hate mob saying certain things to try to get ahead of her career being destroyed should not be treated the same as rich, powerful politician making statements about society that will affect society in order to continue being rich and powerful. I’m not exactly rushing to leap to her defense—I think it more than likely she’s getting exactly what she’s always supported—but on the chance that she’s not, the incentives and compulsions and consequences on and of her statements right now cannot be compared as though she were a senator endorsing crime and racism so she can keep riding the gravy train.