Trump harshly criticizes trial after conviction, announces appeal

(Patria) - Former US President Donald Trump, found guilty of falsifying documents by a New York jury on May 30, has harshly criticized the trial and announced an appeal of the conviction.

As AP reports, Trump, at his first press conference after the guilty verdict, held at the Manhattan tower bearing his name, reiterated his claims that the trial was politically motivated, the trial shameful, and the judge conflicted, reports RSE.

"If they can do this to me, they can do it to anyone. The trial was not fair, our witnesses were crucified. We couldn't do anything, and the government could do everything. We asked for the trial to be moved out of New York, we asked for the judge to be changed, they didn't allow us," Trump stated.

He also emphasized that he cannot speak in more detail about the "conflict of interest" involving Judge Juan Merchan, as he is still under a gag order preventing him from publicly commenting on trial participants.

Let us recall that 12 jurors delivered the verdict on May 30, five months before the US presidential election, in which Trump is expected to face off against current Democratic Party President Joseph Biden.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office charged Trump with 34 counts, including falsifying 11 invoices, 12 vouchers, and 11 checks to conceal a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, in order to buy her silence about their alleged sexual encounter in 2006.

Trump was married to Melania Trump at the time. The former US president denies this.

The judge, incidentally, repeatedly warned Trump for making statements about the trial and, about halfway through the proceedings, fined him a total of $9,000 for violating the gag order.

Trump claimed that relevant authorities had previously dismissed the case of payment to Daniels, as they did not consider it a criminal offense, and that Manhattan prosecutor Alvin Bragg decided to prosecute him "because of the timing, when he saw his ratings rise".

At yesterday's press conference, the former president also boasted that he had received a record $39 million in donations since the verdict was announced, and cited Daily Mail data, according to which he has a six percent lead over Biden.

"Remember, November 5 is the most important day in the history of our country," Trump said in his 30-minute address to the public, during which he did not answer journalists' questions.

No former US president or potential party candidate has ever faced a felony conviction or prison sentence, AP writes.

Trump has long claimed, without evidence, that the four indictments against him were orchestrated by Democratic President Joe Biden in an attempt to keep him out of the White House.

In the next two months, Trump will have his first debate with Biden, be nominated as a candidate, and officially accept his party's nomination at the Republican National Convention.

However, before heading to Milwaukee for the convention, he will have to return to court on July 11 for sentencing. He could face a fine or up to four years in prison.