Former President Donald Trump called the hush money trial “rigged” while speaking outside the courthouse Thursday just moments after learning he was found guilty on 34 counts.
“This was a disgrace,” Trump told reporters. “This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. It’s a rigged trial, a disgrace.”
Referencing his failed petition to move the trial out of Manhattan, Trump continued, “They wouldn’t give us a venue change,” adding, “We were at 5% or 6% in this district, in this area.”
Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump exits the courtroom after he was convicted in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, May 30, 2024.
Justin Lane/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Last week, a panel of New York State appellate judges denied Trump’s appeal to move his criminal trial, which had been underway for six weeks, out of Manhattan to another New York county.
Trump referenced the upcoming presidential election in November, calling that the “real verdict.”
“The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here,” Trump said, referring to Election Day.
Trump continued to maintain his innocence, saying, “We didn’t do a thing wrong. I’m a very innocent man — it’s OK,” he said, adding, “I’m fighting for our country, I’m fighting for our constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now.”
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Taking aim at his election rival, Trump said, “This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound, to hurt an opponent — a political opponent.”
White House counsel’s office spokesperson Ian Sams reacted with a brief statement on the Trump verdict, saying they “respect the rule of law” and “have no additional comment.”
Trump continued his remarks, addressing the state of the nation and calling out immigration and prison reform, saying, “We don’t have the same country anymore — we have a divided mess. We’re a nation in decline, serious decline, millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now from prisons and from mental institutions, terrorists, and they’re taking over our country.”
People of the State of NY v Donald J Trump – Guilty on All counts.
ABC News
Trump concluded his statement outside the courthouse, saying, “This is long from over, thank you very much.”
Trump was on trial in New York City, where he was convicted on all 34 felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.
Former President Donald Trump reacted to the guilty verdict in the hush money trial, alleging bias and claiming that the outcome was politically motivated. The trial, which centered around payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep quiet about alleged affairs with Trump, resulted in his former lawyer Michael Cohen being found guilty on multiple charges.
In a statement released shortly after the verdict was announced, Trump criticized the legal system and accused prosecutors of targeting him unfairly. He claimed that the trial was a “witch hunt” and that the guilty verdict was a result of bias against him.
Trump’s reaction to the verdict is not surprising, as he has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to the hush money payments. He has long maintained that the payments were made to protect his reputation and were not illegal. However, prosecutors argued that the payments were made in violation of campaign finance laws and constituted illegal campaign contributions.
The guilty verdict in the hush money trial is just one of many legal challenges that Trump has faced since leaving office. He is also under investigation for his role in the January 6th Capitol riot and faces multiple lawsuits related to his business dealings and personal conduct.
Despite his claims of bias and political motivation, it is important to remember that the legal system is designed to hold individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their status or political affiliation. The guilty verdict in the hush money trial is a reminder that no one is above the law, and that justice must be served impartially and without bias.
As the legal proceedings continue, it remains to be seen how Trump will respond to the charges against him and whether he will face any consequences for his actions. In the meantime, the American public will be watching closely as the legal system works to uphold the rule of law and hold those responsible for their actions.
