Speaking in the lobby of Trump Tower on Friday, May 31, 2024, former U.S President, Donald Trump asserted that he was wrongfully convicted in the hush money case, adding that he would appeal the jury’s verdict.
“We’re going to be appealing this scam. We’re going to be appealing it on many different things,” Trump said.
He attacked judge Juan Merchan, saying, “He wouldn’t allow us to have witnesses, he wouldn’t allow us to talk, he wouldn’t allow us to do anything.”
“The judge was a tyrant,” he added.
Trump claimed that the judge and the court is in “total conjunction with the White House and the DoJ [department of justice].”
There is no evidence for this claim.
Also, Trump blamed Joe Biden for his business fraud conviction.
“I’m the leading candidate. I’m leading Biden by a lot, and I’m leading the Republicans to the point where that’s over,” Trump said.
He recounted that he was under a gag order, which he said was the fault of Biden and the justice department – though the order was in fact imposed by New York judge Juan Merchan.
“Just so you understand, this is all done by Biden and his people, maybe his people, more importantly, I don’t know, if Biden knows too much about it, because I don’t know if he knows about anything, but he’s nevertheless the President, so we have to use his name, and this is done by Washington, and nobody’s ever seen anything like it.”
Donald Trump
Trump’s accusation that Joe Biden was behind the prosecution does not line up with the facts of the case.
The case against Trump was brought by the elected Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, who does not report to the federal government.
Biden does not have any authority over Bragg or his office, and there is no evidence that the Biden administration had anything to do with the case.
Moreover, Trump claimed that his trial was “rigged.”
“It was a rigged trial. We wanted a venue change, where we could have a fair trial. We didn’t get it. We wanted a judge change, we wanted a judge that wasn’t conflicted, and obviously he didn’t do that … nobody’s ever seen anything like it.”
Donald Trump
Prior to Trump’s speech, his attorney, Todd Blanche, told a news agency that his team is prepared to “vigorously fight” the conviction by filing motions over the next couple of weeks.
“If that is not successful, then as soon as we can appeal we will,” he said.
When asked on what grounds he is seeking an appeal, Blanche remarked that he felt the publicity and timing of the trial “was really unfair to President Trump.”
“Our system of justice isn’t supposed to be a system of justice in which every single person that walks into the courtroom knows about the case,” he added.
Trump Expresses Willingness To “Save America”
As his speech drew to a close, Trump cast himself as a fighter for the United States at large.
“I’m willing to do whatever I have to do to save our country and to save our Constitution,” he said.
“So we will continue the fight. We’re going to make America great again,” he added.
Nonetheless, he went back to complaining about various things, especially migrants.
“Our kids can’t have a little league game anymore because you have tents and you have migrants living on the fields. That’s the least of it. People are taking over our luxury hotels, migrants and yet, our veterans, our great veterans, are living on the streets like dogs. They’re living on the streets, but migrants are living in luxury hotels and cities all over our country run by Democrats.”
Donald Trump
He concluded with the statement; “Remember, November 5 is the most important day in the history of our country. Thank you very much.”
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