Hours after Donald Trump became the first former US President to face a judge on federal charges as he pleaded not guilty in a Miami courtroom, he lambasted his successor for allegedly imposing "bogus charges" on him and asserted under the Presidential Records Act, he has the legal right to keep all of the documents found in Mar-a-Lago. Notably, it’s a law that he and his lawyers and supporters have repeatedly mischaracterised.
He claimed that as US President, he enjoyed "unconstrained authority" to make decisions regarding the disposal of documents.
"Many people have asked me why I had these boxes, why did you want them? The answer, in addition to having every right under the Presidential Records Act, is that these boxes were containing all types of personal belongings – many, many things, shirts and shoes …I wonder who it might have been dumped one of the very neatly arranged boxes all over the floor," he said.
"This persecution is being done by the same weaponized agencies that for seven years have been running illegal psychological warfare campaigns against the American people," said the former US President.
He claimed that his successor Joe Biden has been spying on his political campaign ever since he declared his candidature for the upcoming elections. However, he did not exhibit any proofs to back his claim.
As claimed while driving to the Miami courtroom in his black-coloured "The Beast", the 45th US President reiterated that he has done nothing wrong and was being persecuted for political purposes. Though he kept mum inside the courtroom, he roared at the Bedminster golf club and charged Biden of taking a $5 million fix from war-torn Ukraine-- a claim that he again did not pose any proof.
"Will prosecute the most corrupt Biden": Trump
During his furious speech, Trump-- who has been facing multiple charges including January 6 riots-- made a tall claim of prosecuting Biden and his family, if he comes to power next year.
"It's also no coincidence that these charges against me came down the VERY SAME DAY evidence revealed Joe Biden took a $5 million bribe from Ukraine. Real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family. I will totally obliterate the deep state," said Trump.
"We know who they are. I know exactly who they are. They want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom," he added. "On November 5th, 2024, justice will be done. We will take back our country, and we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
Also, he claimed Biden of keeping "classified documents" "in Chinatown, DC Chinatown” which he termed as “shocking considering his family received so much money from China”.
Why is Trump facing 37 felony charges?
The Justice Department on Friday unsealed an indictment charging Trump with 37 felony counts, 31 relating to the willful retention of national defence information. Other charges include conspiracy to commit obstruction and false statements. The indictment alleges Trump intentionally retained hundreds of classified documents that he took with him from the White House to his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, after leaving the White House in January 2021. The material he stored, including in a bathroom, ballroom, bedroom and shower, included material on nuclear programs, defence and weapons capabilities of the US and foreign governments and a Pentagon “attack plan,” the indictment says. The information, if exposed, could have put at risk members of the military, confidential human sources and intelligence collection methods, prosecutors said.
