Former President Donald Trump on Saturday criticized his landmark federal indictment as “ridiculous” and “baseless,” in his first public appearances since the allegations against him were unsealed.
Trump claimed that the 37 serious indictments also constituted an assault on his supporters, as he tried to profit politically from his delicate judicial ordeal and project an image of normality.
In speeches to the Republican state conventions in Georgia and North Carolina, Trump characterized his involvement in prosecution by the Justice Department as an attempt to undermine his chances of returning to the White House during his campaign for a second presidential term. .
“They have unleashed one witch hunt after another in their attempt to stop our movement, stifle the will of the American people,” Trump declared in Georgia, later telling the crowd that “ultimately, they are not coming for me, they are coming for you.”
This strategy is well known by Trump, who remains the favorite in the race for the Republican presidential nomination ahead of the 2024 elections despite mounting legal problems, including criminal charges filed against him in March in NY.
Time and again, Trump has tried to discredit law enforcement during investigations while portraying and portraying his supporters as victims, even when he is charged with serious crimes.
Trump also announced Saturday that he will stay in the race even if he is found guilty in the case.
“I will never resign,” he told Politico in an interview on board the plane he was traveling in after his speech in Georgia. He predicted that he will not be found guilty and ignored questions about a self-pardon if he wins a second period.
“I don’t think I’ll have to,” Trump said. “I did not do anything wrong”.
The indictment unsealed Friday accuses Trump of knowingly defying Justice Department requests to return classified documents, enlisting associates to conceal it and even telling his lawyers that he wanted to contest a subpoena related to materials held at his residence.
The indictment includes allegations that he stored documents in a living room and bathroom at his Mar-a-Lago estate, among other locations.
Trump is scheduled to make his first appearance in federal court in Miami on Tuesday. The former president was charged with valet Walt Nauta, his personal aide who prosecutors allege moved boxes from a warehouse compound to Trump’s residence for inspection and later lied to investigators about that action.
Nauta traveled with Trump on Saturday, appearing at his side during a stop at the Georgia Waffle House, where the former president signed autographs, posed for photos and told supporters: “We did absolutely nothing wrong.”
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