Former President Donald Trump says prosecutors and Judge Juan Merchan are attempting to “rush” through his Manhattan trial to hurt him before election day. Following another day in court Thursday, Trump criticized the pace at which the trial has been moving, accusing the judge and District Attorney Alvin Bragg of election interference.
“This case, which should never have been brought—it should have been brought seven or eight years ago—they didn’t do that because they want to bring it up right in the middle of the election, especially since we’re leading in every poll,” Trump told reporters outside the courthouse.
“They’re trying to rush to get it done before the election so that they can harm me, so they can hurt their political opponent,” Trump said. “They’re rushing. All this rush. There’s no rush. These trials take forever. But this one, they’re rushing it. We’re here early in the morning and we leave in the evening.”
Trump currently faces 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records in New York. The trial wrapped its fourth week of proceedings on Thursday, with cross-examination expected to continue on Monday with Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen.
“Now the judge wants to extend the time periods so that we can get this thing done fast before the election. It’s terrible,” Trump said.
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Rep. @mattgaetz: This is a MADE-UP crime—no other American in the country would be charged with this type of crime. pic.twitter.com/JCfmuzTYVU
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In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump also suggested that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had been pressured into bringing the charges. “People are thinking that Soros backed D.A., Alvin Bragg, who never wanted to bring the Witch Hunt against me in the first place, is going to drop this ridiculous and very unpatriotic ‘CASE’ in order to save lots of money, and also the self-respect of his once revered Office,” Trump wrote. “He would then be able to focus on Violent Crime, which is running rampant and totally out of control in New York.”
“The dilemma is, and always has been, the Trump Hating (APPOINTED IN 2009 & STILL ACTING!) Judge, Juan Merchan, who would be confronted with the problem of how he would explain this TRUMP loss, to the Radical Left Democrats, to whom he owes so much? Bring back ‘Justice in America.’ ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!” ~ Donald Trump via Truth Social
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Trump is currently in West Palm Beach for his son Barron’s high school graduation. He had requested the day off from the trial to attend. Prior to his petition being approved by Judge Merchan, Trump said that his son is “a great student, and he’s very proud of the fact he did so well and was looking forward for years to having his graduation with his mother and father there.” Trump had pushed for weeks to receive the day off from the “scam trial.”
Michael Cohen is expected to be the prosecution’s final witness. His testimony is due to resume on Monday, and the trial is expected to be approaching the finish line.
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