WINDHAM, NH (AP) — Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday continued his attack on special counsel Jack Smith and vowed to continue speaking out about his criminal cases even after Prosecutors sought a protective order To limit the evidence that Trump and his team could share.
In early-voting New Hampshire, Trump attacked Smith as a “thug prosecutor” and “deranged man” a week after he was charged with a felony over his efforts. to flip the results The 2020 election in the run-up to the uprising at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The former president hurled insults at Smith just days after the Justice Department asked a judge to approve a protective order preventing Trump from publicly disclosing evidence. Federal prosecutors maintain that Trump is seeking to “try the case in the media, not in a courtroom.”
The judge overseeing the case has scheduled a hearing on the protection order for Friday morning. Trump, after his rally on Tuesday, made a post on his social network attacking the judge, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan.
Trump Lawyers argued that The potential regime is too broad and would restrict First Amendment rights to free speech, something Trump echoed onstage on Tuesday.
“I’ll talk about it. They’re not going to take my First Amendment,” Trump said, speaking to his supporters during a rally at a high school in the southeastern New Hampshire town of Windham.
The former president said he needed to be able to answer reporters’ questions about the issue during the campaign — something he did not practice — and cited the movie “2000 Mules,” which made Various allegations that have been debunked About mail ballots, drop boxes, and ballot collection in the 2020 presidential election.
“It will all come out during this trial,” Trump said.
In the four-count indictment filed against Trump last week, the Justice Department accused him of masterminding a scheme to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power. Prosecutors said that several people in trusted positions told him his allegations were false, but that he published them anyway to sow public mistrust about the election.
Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, repeated his lies about the election on Tuesday, In spite of the fact That numerous federal and local election officials from both parties, a long list of courts, former senior campaign staffers and even the attorney general have all said there is no evidence of fraud he alleges.
“There wasn’t a second on any day that I didn’t think that election was rigged. It was a rigged election, it was stolen, it was disgusting, and this country should be ashamed.”
Trump, who also faces charges in Florida and New York, is preparing for events Possible fourth indictment, in a case from Fulton County, Georgia, regarding alleged efforts by him and his allies to illegally interfere in that state’s 2020 election. The county attorney, Fanny Willis, indicated that any indictments in the case are likely to be issued this month.
Trump hinted at that Tuesday, predicting that when it comes to indictments, “I should have four by sometime next week.” He also launched a very personal attack on Willis, who is Black, calling the 52-year-old plaintiff “a racist young lady in Atlanta.”
“She’s got a lot of problems. But she wants to convict me of trying to run for another office.”
A Willis spokesman declined to comment.
beyond criminal cases, Trump faces several civil cases who make their way through the courts.
Although he usually brags that his legal troubles only help his campaign prospects, on Tuesday he rarely acknowledged the toll they were taking. his political process It has spent more than $40 million on legal fees so far this year, As per recent campaign finance disclosures.
Trump, who has portrayed the investigations as politically motivated, said they are forcing him to “spend time and money off the campaign trail in order to combat bogus accusations and charges.”
“That’s what they do. I’m sorry, I won’t be able to go to Iowa today. I won’t be able to go to New Hampshire today,” he said.
The crowd roared and let out chants of “Thor ——!”
Trump smiled and shook his head as he watched the cheering crowd.
He said “thank you very much”.
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I mentioned the price from New York. Associated Press writer Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed to this report.
