Former President Donald Trump lashes out against ‘corrupt’ US justice system
Former President Donald Trump lashes out against the US justice system after being indicted on 37 counts of mishandling classified materials. Many Republicans have rallied behind the former president and amplified his sense of outrage.
Former US President Donald Trump on Saturday railed against the "corrupt" US justice system, lashing out a day after federal prosecutors indicted him on multiple felony charges in an explosive development in the 2024 presidential election race.
The 37-count indictment focuses on his alleged mishandling of classified materials, signifies a significant escalation compared to the personal political and commercial misconduct allegations Trump previously faced in the past.
The charges, released on Friday, paint a grave legal picture for the ex-president, setting the stage for an unprecedented White House race as President Joe Biden's Department of Justice relentlessly pursues the prosecution of the clear front-runner for the Republican nomination.
Trump passionately voiced his grievances at two state Republican conventions, first in Georgia and then in North Carolina, denouncing what he called an unfair legal assault against him.
In Greensboro, North Carolina, he said, "you're dealing with crazy lunatics."
"The baseless indictment of me by the Biden administration's weaponised department of injustice will go down as among the most horrific abuses of power in the history of our country," he added.
During an earlier appearance in Columbus, Georgia, Trump emphasized that the court pursuit was directly tied to his aspirations for a second term in the White House. According to him, the indictment and witch hunt would not exist if he were not a political contender.
He told supporters, "That's why they're doing it, if I wasn't, there would be no witch hunt, there would be no indictment."
In a few days, Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court in Miami to address the explosive charges of willfully endangering US national security by retaining classified defence information, conspiring to obstruct justice, corruptly concealing documents, and making false statements.
The charges, brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith from the Justice Department, carry a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Responding to the indictment with a string of posts, Trump took to his Truth Social platform and released a video statement, branding Smith as "deranged" and a "Trump hater," framing the prosecution as election interference orchestrated by Biden and his campaign.
He said, “they come after me because now we're leading in the polls again by a lot against Biden.”
Many Republicans, including some of Trump's rivals for the party nomination, have rallied behind him, amplifying his outrage and expressing support.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, despite a tumultuous relationship with Trump, described the indictment as a "dark day" for the United States while standing firmly with the former president.
McCarthy said, “I, and every American who believes in the rule of law, stand with President Trump.”
Similarly, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, considered a viable challenger for the Republican nomination, echoed claims of a "weaponised" Justice Department.
(With inputs from AFP)
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First Published:11 Jun 2023, 06:55 AM IST
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