5 reasons why Trump claims hush money trial was politically motivated: From blaming Biden to gag order
5 reasons why Donald Trump claims hush money trial was 'rigged'
Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up the hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The 12-panel New York jury unanimously agreed to convict the 45th president on Thursday, May 30, after weeks of hearing testimonies followed by nearly 12 hours of deliberations. However, Trump stood firm on his claim that the hush money criminal trial was a politically motivated witch hunt. From blaming his successor and Democratic opponent, President Joe Biden, to the gag order, here are five reasons why the former president argues the criminal trial was 'rigged'.
1. Claiming the case was motivated by President Joe Biden
The hush money criminal trial unfolded in the heavily Democratic Manhattan, where around 85% voted for Biden over the 45th president in the 2020 election. In addition, the prosecution's party affiliation fuelled Trump's claims. The former president often branded the case a "Biden trial." After hearing the guilty verdict, he doubled down on his accusations, stating, "This was done by the Biden Administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent." Furthermore, Matthew Colangelo, a Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's team prosecutor, previously worked as a high-ranking official under Biden's Justice Department. Colangelo also worked on other Trump-related cases at the New York State Attorney General's Office.
2. Accusing Justice Juan Merchan of being 'conflicted'
Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the hush money trial, was not spared from the accusations. Before the trial started, Trump and his attorneys demanded the judge recuse himself from the trial because his daughter had done consulting work for major Democrats. Loren Merchan's Chicago-based political consulting firm Authentic Campaigns has clients including Trump critics like Rep Adam Schiff, who led the prosecution of the ex-POTUS' first impeachment trial. "The judge, who, as you know, is very conflicted and corrupt. Because of the confliction, very, very corrupt. Mother Teresa could not beat these charges," Trump said on May 29 after the first day of jury deliberations. However, according to New York State's Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, such progressive leanings could not remove Merchan from the case.
3. Arguing gag order prevented him from talking about the case
Trump's continued attack on witnesses and others related to the trial forced Merchan to put a gag order against the defendant, preventing him from making public remarks about witnesses' jurors and family members of the DA and the judge. However, Trump claimed the gag order prohibited him from freely speaking about the case. "It's totally unconstitutional," Trump said on April 23. "I'm not allowed to talk, but people are allowed to talk about me."
4. Asserting there is 'no crime'
Throughout the trial, Trump claimed there was "no crime" in falsifying business records, and no one was aware of what crimes he was found guilty of. Though lying on business records is considered a crime in the Empire State, it is usually a misdemeanor charge. But Bragg turned those into a felony, maneuvered the statute limitations, and argued Trump falsified the records to commit another crime. The prosecution claimed that the former president was trying to influence the 2016 election by doing so to cover up the hush money payment to Daniels.
5. Alleging Alvin Bragg was backed by liberal billionaire George Soros
Another repeated argument Trump put forth to assert the political persecution behind the hush money trial was accusing the Manhattan DA of being connected to billionaire investor George Soros, who faces indignation from right-leaning politicians. The billionaire's Color of Change PAC spent over $500,000 for Bragg's 2021 election campaign. However, there is no evidence to prove that Soros was linked to Trump's criminal trial prosecution.
