Donald Trump is vocally denouncing the recent guilty verdict against him in New York, labeling it a sham and corrupt while asserting he wanted to testify on his behalf. This came during his first official press conference since the conviction, held on Friday at Trump Tower in New York City.
Trump was convicted on Thursday of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He called the charges "absolutely ridiculous" and claimed the judicial process was biased against him. In his press conference, Trump elaborated on his dealings with Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, portraying the alleged hush money payment as a legitimate business expense. He criticized the judge involved in the case and blamed President Biden for the legal actions brought against him.
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The former president also expressed frustration over a gag order placed on him, which he violated, resulting in thousands of dollars in fines. He dismissed the notion of being threatened with jail time, though he faces potential years behind bars, a prospect he finds absurd.
Interestingly, Trump revealed he was eager to testify on his behalf but was ultimately advised against it by his legal team. His lawyers feared he might inadvertently commit perjury.
Trump characterized the case as a political witch hunt and used the press conference as an opportunity to highlight various issues he believes are wrong with the country. Despite being the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony, Trump remains defiant and energized. His supporters, equally outraged by the conviction, continue to rally behind him.
The impact of this conviction on Trump's future remains to be seen. Whether it will ultimately help or hurt him politically is uncertain, but one thing is clear: Trump remains as defiant as ever, steadfastly maintaining his innocence.