A day after his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, former US President Donald Trump criticized the hush money trial as “very unfair” and singled out Judge Juan Merchan, branding him as “conflicted,” as reported by CNN. Trump announced plans for his legal team to appeal the conviction, dismissing the trial as a “hoax.”
Speaking from Trump Tower in Manhattan, Trump lamented, “As far as the trial itself, it was very unfair. We weren’t allowed to use our election expert under any circumstances. You saw what happened to some of the witnesses that were on our side, they were literally crucified by this man.” He harshly criticized the judge, stating, “he looks like an angel, but he’s really a devil. He looks so nice and soft. No, unless you saw him in action. And you saw that with a certain witness that went through hell,” CNN reported.
Disputing the court’s verdict, Trump asserted, “The people of our country know it’s a hoax, they know it’s a hoax, they get it.” He added, “You know, they’re really smart. And it’s really something, so we’re going to be appealing this scam,” according to ABC News.
Trump revealed that he had been subjected to a “gag order,” resulting in hefty penalties and the threat of jail. He stated, “There’s never been a more conflicted judge,” expressing frustration over the gag order imposed on him. “Now, I’m under a gag order, which nobody has ever been under — no presidential candidates ever been under a gag order before,” he lamented.
Trump claimed that the conviction stemmed from a legal expense paid to lawyer Michael Cohen, which was recorded as such in the books without his knowledge. He criticized the characterization of his actions as “falsifying business records,” asserting, “That’s a bad thing for me, I’ve never had that before.”
Though he avoided mentioning Michael Cohen by name to comply with the gag order, Trump criticized his former attorney’s credibility, stating, “This was a highly qualified lawyer… he’s a sleazebag. Everybody knows that. Took me a while to find out, but he was effective.”
Trump’s conviction marks a historic moment, making him the first US president to be convicted of a felony. Prosecutors accused him of involvement in an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election and suppress negative information, particularly related to hush money paid to an adult film star.
Trump vehemently denied wrongdoing, asserting his innocence and emphasizing the upcoming general election as the true gauge of public opinion. Despite his conviction, he lambasted the Manhattan District Attorney and the Biden administration, alleging their undue influence on the case.
Trump’s legal team plans to challenge the verdict, but Judge Juan Merchan denied a motion for acquittal and scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 11. The trial focused on allegations surrounding a hush-money scheme involving Stormy Daniels, with Trump found guilty of falsifying business records in connection with the scheme.