Former President Donald Trump Claims 'Election Interference' After Pleading Not Guilty

Trump delivered an angry speech on Tuesday (4 April) from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, targeting Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg and prosecutors in Georgia and Washington who are investigating him.

After pleading not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in a Manhattan courthouse, Trump's appearance marked the end of a dramatic day.

"I've defended our nation bravely, my only 'crime' against those seeking to destroy it," he asserted.

Republican critics of former president Trump, including Mitt Romney and John Bolton, have dismissed the charges brought against him by Bragg, which they deem politically motivated and lacking in substance.

Trump appears more confident and determined to run for the White House in 2024, emboldened by this skeptical reaction from his party.

Romney, a Utah senator, believes that Trump is unfit for office due to his character and conduct. However, he thinks that the New York prosecutor has gone too far in pressing criminal charges to advance a political agenda.

Bolton, who opposes Trump's presidential nomination, expressed distress over the unsealed indictment on Tuesday, stating, "I'm extraordinarily distressed by this document."

Bolton, former national security adviser to Trump, commented that the situation is weaker than expected, highlighting his concern.

Democrats, including Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, expressed caution about supporting Trump's prosecution, believing in a fair trial based on facts and the law.

In New York, the judge handling the case advised the ex-president to avoid making comments that would possibly trigger violence, civil disorder, or harm anyone's safety.

In his speech at Mar-a-Lago, Trump accused the special prosecutor investigating his role in the 6 January riots of being a "lunatic". He also claimed that a "Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife and family" would prevent him from receiving a fair trial.

Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis, who is investigating his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election result, was accused of being a racist.

Democratic pundits expressed concerns that President Trump's vitriolic speech following the announcement of his indictment could end up backfiring.

David Axelrod, Barack Obama's former political strategist, tweeted that although the speech might help Trump's political standing in the short term, the tone of the speech should give pause.

He questioned if even Trump's base would want to tolerate more of this type of speech for the next two or six years.

Bragg accused Trump of leading a plan to suppress negative stories during his 2016 campaign.

Trump's office paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels 12 days before inauguration to keep story of alleged affair from being revealed, according to Bragg's office.

$180,000 in payments were made to a woman, suspected to be Karen McDougal, and a former Trump Tower doorman. This statement of facts was given by Bragg's office.

The 16-page indictment specified crimes related to payments made in 2017 to reimburse Michael Cohen, the former lawyer of President Trump, to compensate Daniels, which were recorded.

Bragg described the case as typical of white-collar ones, with allegations of repeatedly lying to evade the law and protect personal interests. We are all responsible for obeying laws.

His office promised to uphold the American principle of equality before the law, regardless of wealth or power.

After the New York grand jury indicted him, Trump's advisor, Jason Miller stated that the former president raised over $8 million in a four-day fundraising effort.