Donald Trump on Saturday claimed he was the victim of a “witch hunt” during his first public address since his indictment the day before by federal justice, an unprecedented move for a former US president and with uncertain consequences for the 2024 Republican primary.
At two Republican meetings in the southeastern United States, he felt he was the target of lawsuits because of his candidacy for a second term in the White House.
“That’s why they do it, if I’m not [candidat]Activists gathered in Columbus, Georgia, argued, “There will be no witch hunt, and there will be no indictment.”
The former real estate mogul was the subject of 37 counts because, when he left the White House, he took thousands of documents, some classified, when he should have entrusted them to the National Archives, and because he later refused to return most of the documents. Despite reminders from the FBI.
This indictment, the second in two months after the first by a New York state judge in April for accounting fraud, sets the stage for an unparalleled 2024 presidential election, as the incumbent Democratic president’s Justice Department files a lawsuit against the favored GOP primary.
Mr. Trump, who repeats that he is a victim of a political gang, took part in two Republican conventions in the southeastern United States on Saturday, first in Georgia and then in North Carolina, and was enraged by what he described as an unfair legal attack. on him.
“You’re dealing with raving lunatics,” said the former chief in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“The baseless indictment by the Ministry of Injustice employed by the Biden administration will rank among the most egregious abuses of power in the history of our country,” he said.
Earlier, in Columbus, Georgia, Mr. Trump told the crowd he was the target of lawsuits over his bid for a second term in the White House.
Both walks were held just three days before he was due to appear in federal court in Miami. He is accused of endangering the national security of the United States by keeping confidential documents, including military and nuclear secrets, when he left the White House.
The indictment, released on Friday, lists 37 counts, including “unlawfully withholding national security information,” “obstruction of justice,” and “perjury.”
Donald Trump has already responded to the news of his conviction through a series of posts on his Truth Social network as well as in a video statement posted to Twitter, calling the special prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Jack Smith, “confused” and disapproving. Presumably, the electoral interference was orchestrated by his rival, Joe Biden.
The latter indicated that he “did not speak” to the Minister of Justice on this matter.
“They are attacking me because we are again ahead of Biden in the polls so much,” Donald Trump asserted, despite the fact that the polls do not show a clear advantage at this point.
The Republican camp has so far generally closed ranks around Mr. Trump.
Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy, whose relationship with the troubled billionaire has not always been good, said the former president’s indictment represented a “black day” for the United States.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, his main opponent for the GOP nomination, joined in denouncing the supposedly “exploited” Department of Justice.
