Former President Trump said prosecutors in the costly and unprecedented New York v. Trump trial are “proving” their case that the justice system is being weaponized against him.
“This is becoming a Montessori card game of, ‘Where’s the crime?’ Smart guy. Where’s the crime,” Trump said outside a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday, reading an opinion by Fox News contributor and legal scholar Jonathan Turley, then quoting other experts. “Mike Davis: ‘The United States would impose sanctions on countries that engage in this kind of behavior.’ I think that’s good. I think that’s good. Steve Hilton: ‘Every day these trials go on, it seems like judges and prosecutors are doing everything they can to prove Trump’s case.'”
After reading the excerpts, Trump added, “…on reflection, I’m proven right. That’s why I’m writing some very sad things.”
Trump has repeatedly called the lawsuit a “sham” and the presiding judge, Judge Juan Merchan, “corrupt” and “conflicted,” an apparent reference to the judge’s family ties to the Democratic Party. Trump has also blasted the lawsuit as a “legal war” waged by the Biden administration to damage his chances of winning the 2024 presidential election.
NY v. Trump: Jurors to continue deliberations for second day in unprecedented case
Former President Trump (L) speaks to reporters with his lawyer Todd Blanche as he arrives for his criminal trial on charges of concealing hush money payments, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, May 30, 2024. Judge Juan Marchan gives instructions to the jury as deliberations enter their second day. (Michael M. Santiago/Pool via Reuters)
Trump is back in court on Thursday as jurors continue to deliberate whether he is guilty of falsifying 34 business records. Prosecutors have sought to prove that Trump falsified business records to cover up a $130,000 payment he made to former porn actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to silence her allegations that she had an affair with Trump in 2006.
NY v. Trump: Defense says prosecutors ‘failed to meet burden of proof’, ex-president ‘innocent’
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied having an affair with Daniels.
Former President Trump leaves Trump Tower to attend a criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on May 30, 2024. (Reuters/Eduardo Munoz)
As the trial continued, Trump has repeatedly noted that the security surrounding the trial has prevented most people from getting within a few blocks of the courthouse, and he cited it again Thursday when he lamented that the trial is costing the city “millions of dollars.”
Trump urges Judge Marchan to “defend his honor” by tossing case
“This is a disgrace. Millions of dollars are being spent every day on this. It looked like Fort Knox outside… I’ve never seen so many police. Columbia University can put a tent in front of their front door and it’s fine. NYU can put a tent up and they don’t have to worry… I just want to say this is a very sad day for America. The whole world is watching and it’s a very sad day for New York,” he said.
“The whole thing is rigged. The whole system is rigged.”
In this courtroom sketch, former President Trump’s children Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump and his wife Lara sit in the front row next to the former president as his lawyer Todd Blanche delivers closing arguments in Trump’s criminal trial at state court in Manhattan, New York City, on May 28, 2024. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg)
“The outside world is watching, but the outside world is not going to bring their business to New York. And that’s costing the city trillions of dollars, costing the state trillions of dollars. Businesses are leaving, people are fleeing,” Trump added before heading to court.
NY v. Trump: Prosecutors say they presented “strong evidence” against former president
Court opened at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, with Judge Marchan again reading the jury instructions after the jurors sent two notes to the judge on Wednesday. In New York criminal cases, jurors are not allowed to receive printed copies of jury instructions or witness records.
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If a juror sends a note to the judge, Trump will be required to remain in the courtroom while the jury deliberates the case.
A ruling could come as early as Thursday.
