Trump after court appearance: ‘Our country is going to hell’

After arriving in Florida, Donald Trump commented on his New York court appearance. He was not stingy with drama. The indicted ex-president said he “never thought something like this could happen in America.” The only crime he has committed is fearlessly defending the nation against those who would destroy it. “Our country is going to hell,” Trump said. He was applauded by the audience at his residence in Mar-a-Lago. As a result, he complained for minutes about how unfairly he had always been treated by his political enemies and made a vote against the “political establishment” who wanted to eliminate him ahead of the 2024 elections. (con)

After the sensational reading of the indictment against former US President Donald Trump in New York, the Republican returned to his adopted home in Florida. Trump’s private jet landed in Palm Beach on Tuesday evening (local time), CNN television footage showed. Trump was scheduled to address later that evening at his nearby Mar-a-Lago estate. Around the time he was in New York, the 76-year-old had made no public statement about the allegations against him.

However, during the flight to Florida, Trump posted to the online platform Truth Social, of which he co-founded. The court hearing in Manhattan was “shocking” for many., as there were no surprises and thus no basis for the allegations, it said. “Nothing illegal was done!” Trump wrote. He continues to deny all allegations.

(con/sda/dpa)

After the unprecedented indictment against Trump has been read, the further trial will be a long time coming. At Tuesday’s impeachment hearing in New York, it has been determined that Trump must appear in court again on December 4, a DPA reporter for the court reported. This includes the opportunity for the defense lawyers to submit requests and time for the public prosecutor to respond.

The lawyers asked Trump not to appear in person on December 4, citing expensive and complex security measures. “It was undoubtedly a huge undertaking for everyone involved,” Judge Juan Merchan said, but tentatively denied the request. Trump would be treated like any other defendant.

Prosecutors suggested January 2024 as a possible start date for Trump’s trial, but the defense has argued for a later date — in late spring 2024. The judge said it would be prudent to move forward as soon as possible. In the pre-trial processes, Trump’s lawyers could still try to prevent it and crack it.

The next presidential election in the US is scheduled for November 2024. Trump announced a few months ago that he was running as his party’s presidential candidate. To do so, he must assert himself in the party’s internal primaries, which are expected to begin in February 2024. (sda/dpa)

Donald Trump left New York after the indictment against him was read. The Republican’s plane took off from LaGuardia Airport on Tuesday afternoon (local time). According to previous announcements, Trump wanted to fly back to the US state of Florida and speak to the press at his Mar-a-Lago estate in the evening (local time). He has not made a public statement about the allegations against him around the appointment in New York. (sda/dpa)

🔴 #Ahora Donald Trump’s ex-president won the private flights and returned to a comparison with Florida for a period in Nueva York with 34 charges that were taxable.

See if it’s a rueda or prensa.

📸 Cortesia pic.twitter.com/X1IcZHlo2A

— Union Radio (@Unionradionet) April 4, 2023

Trump has been called upon in court to fulfill his obligations as a defendant and not incite people to violence. At the reading of Trump’s indictment in New York on Tuesday, Judge Juan Merchan said, citing Trump’s social media posts filed by the prosecution: “Be sure to refrain from statements that glorify violence, cause disturbances and jeopardize safety.” This is a request, not an order, but he may want to take a closer look at Trump’s conduct in this regard, Merchan said, as a court dpa reporter reported. The prosecution had asked the judge to take a position on the statements. Trump’s lawyers rejected the allegations. (sda/dpa)

While the ex-president is silent, one of his lawyers, Todd Blanche, gave a brief explanation outside the courthouse. He says Trump is “frustrated and angry.” The charge went exactly as he expected.

The prosecutor explains his arguments against Trump in a press conference. “34 False statements to cover up other crimes is a New York State crime,” Bragg said. It doesn’t matter who you are – including an ex-president.

All 34 charges relate to forgery of business documents. These are so-called “Class E” crimes, the lowest level in New York State. The maximum prison sentence for this is four years. Trump sought to hide damaging information and illegal activity before and after the 2016 presidential election, prosecutors in New York said Tuesday.

Donald Trump has left the courtroom. As with the entry, the ex-president refrained from speaking to the media.

His spokeswoman said the landmark charges against his predecessor Donald Trump “are not something he’s focusing on” for US President Joe Biden. That’s what White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said during Tuesday’s daily news briefing when asked if Biden was following Trump’s events in New York. If Biden has time, he will certainly get at least some of the news as it is reported on many channels, Jean-Pierre said. Otherwise, however, the president is focusing on the American people, as he does every day. She also declined to comment on the case because it is an ongoing process.

When asked how the White House felt about Trump’s harsh remarks, which also targeted elected officials such as New York Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is leading the current case against Trump, Jean-Pierre said: “Any kind of violence is something we condemn.”

Trump has caused a stir in recent weeks with posts on his co-founded social media platform Truth Social, warning of “death and destruction” regarding the case now before the courts. In another post shared by Trump, he was seen in a photo montage holding a baseball bat next to Bragg. (sda/dpa)