NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump lashed out against the hush money trial moments on Thursday after he was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying documents by a jury.
Speaking outside the courthouse, Trump called the trial “rigged” and blasted the judge.
“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.”
“They wouldn’t give us a venue change,” he added, referencing the petition his lawyers asked the court for. “We were at 5% or 6% in this district, in this area.”
Trump said the real verdict will take place in November, referencing Election Day when the voters head to the ballot box.
“The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here,” he said.
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.”
The former president falsely claimed Joe Biden and the White House were behind his trials and first conviction.
“This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound, to hurt an opponent — a political opponent,” he said.
Biden‘s campaign said “no one is above the law” and the White House added they have no additional comments on the news of the verdict.
“Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain,” Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said in a statement. “But today’s verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality.”
“We respect the rule of law and have no additional comment,” said Ian Sams, spokesperson for the White House counsel’s office.
Meanwhile, Trump continued to lash out, addressing the state of the nation while airing out his grievances on the trial.
“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,” he said.
Later, the Trump campaign announced a press conference on Friday morning.
