Donald Trump has said he will appeal his criminal conviction for falsifying business records, insisting he paid a “legal expense” and there was “nothing illegal.”
In a desultory 40-minute press conference at Trump Tower in New York, Triumph He began by saying “if they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone,” before going on to criticize his trial and the “highly confrontational judge” who presided over it.
He later attacked Joe BidenCalling him “the dumbest president we’ve ever had,” he called the gag order imposed during the hush money trial “disgusting” and tested his limits by targeting his former lawyer. Michael Cohen.
“This [trial] “It’s all done by Biden and his people,” Trump said, saying President Joe Biden’s administration worked “in concert with” the Justice Department in prosecuting him.
Trump also reiterated his accusation that the trial was “rigged” and criticized the decision to reject his defense’s request to change venues. “The witnesses on our side were literally crucified,” he continued.
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Reaction to Trump’s press conference
Trump was greeted with cheers from his supporters gathered inside the building. Photo: AP
Trump delivered his speech in the brass and pink marble lobby of Trump Tower. Photo: AP
The former president said, “We’re going to fight,” adding, “We’re going to appeal this for a lot of different things.”
His son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law Lara Trump were present at the speech, but his wife Melania, who has maintained a public silence since the verdicts, was not seen.
Eric and Lara Trump were present, but Melania was not seen at the event. Photo: AP
On Thursday, a unanimous jury in New York found Trump guilty for 34 counts of falsifying business records to commit election fraud.
Former president covered up $130,000 (£102,000) payment to adult film star Stormy Daniel as part of a “hush money” scheme to bury stories he thought could damage his 2016 presidential campaign.
Today at Trump Tower, the former president insisted that the payment to his former lawyer and fixer Cohen was simply a “legal expense” and “standard stuff”; “There was nothing illegal,” Trump added.
A gag order prevents Trump from publicly criticizing witnesses in the hush money trial, including Cohen.
While the former president did not name his former lawyer, he called him “sleazy” and added, “Everyone knows it.”
He said prosecutors only wanted to know if he was “a bad boy here, a bad boy there” and said the “lewd details” of his alleged encounter with Ms. Daniels in a hotel room had “nothing to do with the case.” “.
In his rambling speech he also said of his opponents: “These are bad people, they are sick people. They want to stop you from having cars.”
Read more about the Trump trial:
Seven Things That Got Him, Including a Secret Recording
Cohen says the former president totally ignored the jury
Nevada voters say Stormy Daniels ‘bashed’ Trump
Photo: Reuters
‘I wanted to testify’
Trump claimed he wanted to take the stand during the trial, but said he ultimately decided against it because he feared being prosecuted for perjury if he made a verbal faux pas.
“I would have liked to have testified,” he said. “But you would have said something out of character like, ‘It was a beautiful sunny day and it was actually raining.'”
Outside on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, his supporters gathered and waved a giant red flag reading “Trump or Death” in front of a luxury boutique.
A small group of protesters held signs that read “justice matters” and “guilty.”
Trump supporters gathered in front of Trump Tower before the press conference. Photo: AP
Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris 2024 campaign said Trump was “wreaking chaos.”
Michael Tyler, the campaign’s communications director, said: “America has just witnessed Donald Trump, confused, desperate and defeated, ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with obvious conclusion: this man cannot be president. from United States.
“Unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions, Trump is consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution.”
What’s next for Trump?
The conviction Doesn’t stop Trump from running for president again.
In his speech, Trump said the case has bolstered his campaign’s fundraising with $39 million coming from “small money donors” in the 10 hours after his conviction.
Trump’s campaign has slightly different figures and claimed that $34.8m (£27.3m) has been raised to support the Republican’s presidential bid since the verdict.
They also say an influx of supporters crashed their fundraising platform.
Trump’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, just days before. The Republican Party is expected to confirm it. as its candidate for the presidential election against Democratic President Biden in November.
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President Biden is also expected to speak from the White House today, but it is unclear whether he will mention Trump’s verdicts.
The president will deliver a speech on the Middle East this afternoon from the State Dining Room.
The timing of President Biden’s speech has not yet been confirmed.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
