TIRANA, April 5 – “I never thought anything like this could happen in America,” Trump told a crowd of supporters in Mar-a-Lago, Florida on Wednesday. “Never thought it could happen. The only crime that I’ve committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it,” Trump was quoted by CBS as saying.
The speech followed his court appearance in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records arising from a hush money payment to a porn star during his 2016 campaign, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the matter.
At least 500 prominent supporters were invited, with some of the most pro-Trump congressional Republicans expected to attend.
Trump painted the indictment as Democrats’ latest attempt to kneecap him, citing “fraudulent investigations” on Russia and Ukraine, and “impeachment hoax one” and “impeachment hoax two.” Trump said his opponents have “really stepped up their efforts by indicting the 45th president of the United States.”
Earlier in the day, flag-waving supporters lined the streets as the Trump caravan headed from Palm Beach International Airport to Mar-a-Lago.
On Tuesday, Trump became the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal prosecution.
The judge warned Trump to refrain from rhetoric that could inflame or cause civil unrest.
A conviction would not prevent Trump from running for or winning the presidency in 2024.
Trump is next due in court in December, but his lawyers asked for him to be excused from attending the hearing in person because of extraordinary security proceedings. /Argumentum.al
