Former President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower on his way to Manhattan criminal court, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. The hush money trial of former President Donald Trump begins Monday with jury selection. It’s a singular moment for American history as the first criminal trial of a former U.S. commander in chief. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
In early morning social media posts setting the mood for his criminal hush-money trial in New York, former President Donald Trump ranted about a “discredited lawsuit” and demanded the return of his voice while speaking.
While Trump and lawsuits have historically gone together like peanut butter and jelly, one would think he is aware he faces 34 felony counts in Manhattan for the alleged falsification of business records, including for the alleged attempt to cover up a dalliance with Stormy Daniels by having his former fixer Michael Cohen use Essential Consultants, LLC, to pay the porn star $130,000 weeks before the 2016 election.
Nonetheless, he railed against Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg (D) on Truth Social for bringing a “discredited lawsuit” that, rather than a civil matter like the fraud trial, is a criminal prosecution, the first such case against a former president to go to trial (and there are three more looming).
“Why didn’t they bring this totally discredited lawsuit 7 years ago???” he asked, implicitly pointing out that he was president at the time, which is when Michael Cohen’s federal case was brought. “Election Interference!”
Former Manhattan DA Cy Vance (D) ultimately declined to charge Trump after spending years in the courts fighting during Trump’s presidency to get his tax returns. Once Bragg was in office, prosecutors leading the case suddenly resigned, leading to criticism of the DA for seeming to shy away from bringing a case. At the time, Bragg insisted the investigation would continue, and it did. A grand jury returned the 34-count indictment in March 2023.
In a separate Truth Social post, Trump remarked on the fact of the existing gag order in the case, claiming to be voiceless while exercising his speech to criticize Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan.
“I want my VOICE back. This Crooked Judge has GAGGED me. Unconstitutional! The other side can talk about me, but I am not allowed to talk about them!” he said, talking about them without getting into specifics. “Rigged Trial!”
In a third post, Trump claimed he was fighting for 325 million Americans and their freedoms, including his political opponents.
“When I walk into that courtroom, I know I will have the love of 200 million Americans behind me, and I will be FIGHTING for the FREEDOM of 325 MILLION AMERICANS!” he said.
More Law&Crime coverage on The Trump Docket: The Trump trial train is leaving the station
The proceedings in New York are set to begin with jury selection and the trial is expected to last for six weeks — and Trump is in attendance on Monday.
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