Donald Trump blasts historic hush money trial as ‘witch-hunt’ and calls supporters to protest
DONALD Trump blasted his historic hush money trial as a “witch-hunt” today as he called for his supporters to protest against it.
The 77-year-old is the first former US President to face a criminal trial.
He denies 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up an alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels.
The prosecution said in opening speeches today that in making payments to her and covering them up, Trump had “orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election”.
Before going into court, Trump accused President Joe Biden of using the trial to interfere with the 2024 vote.
The likely Republican Party candidate posted online: “These are all Biden trials. This is done as election interference. Everybody knows it.
“I’m here instead of being in Pennsylvania and Georgia and lots of other places campaigning, and it’s very unfair.
“Fortunately, the poll numbers are very good, they’ve been going up because people understand what’s going on.
“This is a witch-hunt, and it’s a shame, and it comes out of Washington. It’s in coordination with Washington, everything, including the DA’s office.
“This is done for purposes of hurting the opponent of the worst president in the history of our country.”
Trump also complained that his supporters have been banned from protesting outside the court in Lower Manhattan.
In a rant on his Truth Social platform, he said: “People who truly LOVE our Country, and want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, are not allowed to ‘Peacefully Protest’, and are rudely and systematically shut down . . .
“America Loving Protesters should be allowed to protest at the front steps of Courthouses, all over the Country. GO OUT AND PEACEFULLY PROTEST. RALLY BEHIND MAGA.”
Outlining the case against Trump, prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told the jury: “The defendant, Donald Trump, orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election then he covered up that conspiracy by lying in his New York business records over and over again.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s lead attorney Todd Blanche told the courtroom: “The 34 counts, ladies and gentlemen, are really just pieces of paper. None of this was a crime.”
Addressing the hush money payment to Ms Daniels — real name Stephanie Clifford — Blanche said Trump had acted to protect his family from a “sinister” attempt to embarrass him.
The trial continues.