LISTEN HERE:
Former President Trump has pleaded not guilty to 37 federal felony charges filed against him, and has condemned his indictment as ‘the most heinous abuse of power in the history of our country.’
The charges are related to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into alleged improper retention of classified records at Mar-a-Lago. Included in the charges are willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and false statements.
During a public statement on Tuesday night from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump referred to Smith as a ‘deranged lunatic,’ and criticized President Biden, calling his administration’s actions ‘election interference.’
Trump accused Biden of having ‘his top political opponent arrested and charged.’
The former president claimed that he was being subjected to ‘political persecution like something straight out of a fascist or communist nation.’ Trump also attacked the decision to use the Espionage Act to prosecute him: ‘The Espionage Act has been used to refer to traitors and spies. It has nothing to do with a former president legally keeping his own documents.’
Trump said that he was being threatened with a 400-year prison sentence for keeping ‘presidential papers,’ which he mentioned that almost every other president had done so before him.
He argued that the Presidential Records Act applied to his case and not the Espionage Act, stating that ”The Presidential Records Act does not confer any mandate, duty or even discretional authority on the archivist to classify records under the statute,’ Trump said. ‘This responsibility is left solely to the President of the United States—so that’s the decision taken here.’
During Trump’s statement, he accused Biden of being the ‘most corrupt president’ in the history of the United States. He emphasized that Biden, along with his ‘closest thugs, misfits and Marxists,’ is using every opportunity to destroy American democracy while invoking popular anger and using the Espionage Act to charge both him and his supporters.
Trump went on to criticize Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden for their roles in the mishandling of classified records. ‘Hillary Clinton broke the law and she didn’t get indicted,’ Trump stated.
‘Joe Biden broke the law, and in many other ways, we’re finding out, and so far has not gotten indicted.’ The former president also stated that he had followed every procedure correctly and condemned his indictment as a miscarriage of justice.
During his statement, Trump also mentioned former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former President George W Bush. Trump accused Clinton of having lost the nuclear codes without any consequences, and Bush of having lost over 22 million emails while serving in the White House.
During the statement, Trump compared his own case to that of his supporters, mentioning the people who had been arrested during the Capitol Hill riots.
He compared their treatment to what he had to undergo, saying ‘These people will sit there for years and decades and something could happen to them. They’re being persecuted. But nothing is happening to Antifa, nothing is happening to BLM, and nothing will happen to them,’ Trump continued. ‘But people who love our country were killed and imprisoned and totally destroyed. It’s a disgrace.’
Trump also spoke out against the mainstream media, accusing them of bias and aligning with the Democratic party. He condemned their reporting as being manipulated and misleading. ‘They just won’t let you tell the truth,’ he said.
Despite the charges against him, Trump asserted that he is ‘the only one who can save this nation.’ He made it clear that he had no intention of going down without a fight. He vowed to seek justice for himself and his supporters and to continue fighting against those determined to undermine American democracy.
In conclusion, Trump’s indictment has not deterred him from continuing to rally support among his base.
He praised his supporters multiple times during his lengthy statement and is determined to fight the charges against him despite the difficulties. He vehemently criticized Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton for their roles in mishandling classified records. In addition, Trump accused the mainstream media of biased reporting and manipulation.
Former President Trump has made it clear that he feels that the charges against him were politically motivated and that he will continue to fight against those who seek to undermine American democracy.
Despite facing a 400-year prison sentence, Trump assured his supporters that he had done nothing wrong and that he would ultimately be acquitted of all charges.
Trump lambasted Smith and the Biden administration, framing his indictment as election interference and accusing them of being corrupt. He insisted that he had done everything by the book and followed proper protocol while arguing that the use of the Espionage Act was unjustified.
Throughout his statement, Trump repeatedly aligned himself with his supporters, speaking directly to their concerns about mainstream media bias and potential persecution.
Although he faces an uphill battle against the charges against him, Trump vowed to continue fighting for his innocence and working to expose those who seek to undermine the United States.
Trump’s charges and indictment have rocked the nation and left many curious about what will come next. Despite facing a daunting legal battle, Trump has made it clear that he has no intention of backing down and is determined to fight against those who seek to silence him and his supporters.
In conclusion, regardless of how the case ends up, one thing is clear: this indictment has only strengthened Trump’s resolve and his base’s loyalty to him. He will undoubtedly continue trying to shape the political narrative and rally support to his cause. In the meantime, the nation can only wait and see how this high-stakes legal battle plays out.