Former President Donald Trump, facing indictment on 37 counts of mishandling sensitive government secrets, used his first campaign speech since his indictment as a platform to stake out his defense based on falsehoods. Trump attempted to position the federal indictment as the latest in a long line of “witch hunts” targeting him and the MAGA movement, while making his supporters believe that he has been constantly blameless, framed and persecuted. Trump turned to another looming legal threat, an ongoing criminal probe by an Atlanta-area district attorney into his pressure campaign to overturn the 2020 election results in the state, by falsely claiming that no one objected to his “perfect phone call” urging Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to change the outcome.
Trump was accompanied by legislators Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), the chairman of the House Republicans’ campaign arm, on his flight to Georgia. He was also joined by his valet and co-defendant, Walt Nauta, who prosecutors alleged moved classified records at Trump’s direction and lied to investigators about it.
Contrasting his bitter speech that followed his arraignment in New York in April, the mood around Trump during his campaign speech was upbeat. He mocked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Justice Department and the attorneys behind his prosecution. He also criticised prosecutors and political opponents as “cowards,” “fanatics,” “fascists and thugs,” “lawless,” “criminals” and “sinister forces” who were more dangerous than America’s enemies abroad.
Advisers say that the campaign is aiming to use the latest charges to solidify his support within the party, just as a previous indictment by the Manhattan district attorney related to a hush money case boosted his early polling lead in the GOP presidential primary. Supporters brandished campaign-issued “Witch Hunt” signs and called out to Trump, “We love you!” upon his arrival in Georgia.Expectation of his court appearance has led to the preparation of additional officers by local police, amid the prospect of demonstrations and a crush of media descending on Miami.
Trump has encouraged his supporters to assemble this Tuesday in Miami when he is expected to appear in court. Back in December 2020, he tweeted about a big protest in D.C. on January 6, 2021, which ended up being an attack at the U.S. Capitol. Evidence presented by the House committee investigating the attack showed that Trump’s tweet inspired extremist groups to plan to disrupt the certification of President Biden’s electoral victory. Leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys were later convicted of seditious conspiracy, hence sparking concerns about the consequences of his call to assemble on Tuesday.
The Trump campaign immediately started soliciting donations following the announcement of the indictment, although a campaign official declined to reveal how much had been raised. Ahead of his speech, an Arizona Republican gave a keynote in which she suggested that violence might be the answer to Trump’s indictment. Another long shot presidential candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy, spoke to decry the charges by pledging that if elected, he would pardon Trump. One Republican who broke ranks by calling on Trump to withdraw his candidacy was former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Speaking to a breakfast, he did not mention Trump, a tacit acknowledgment of his audience’s tilt.
Notably absent from the convention were Raffensperger and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R), who split with Trump over his demands to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. Overall, Trump used the occasion to construct his version of truth, using falsehoods to defend himself against the charges against him.
Original Story at www.washingtonpost.com – 2023-06-10 15:55:00
