Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will appeal his criminal conviction for falsifying business records. The verdict was delivered by a New York jury earlier this week.
“We’re going to be appealing this scam… on many different things,” Trump said during a press conference at Trump Tower. He expressed strong dissatisfaction with the trial, calling it “very unfair” and criticizing the legal process as politicized.
“It was very unfair… You saw what happened to some of the witnesses that were on our side — they were literally crucified,” Trump added, referring to the treatment of defense witnesses during the trial. He labeled his opponents as “sick” and “fascists,” reiterating his belief that the trial was a political maneuver against him.
Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments. Despite the serious charges, he remained defiant, insisting that his legal team had multiple grounds for an appeal.
“We’re going to be appealing this scam… on many different things,” he declared again during his speech, highlighting his determination to overturn the verdict.
The former president also claimed that he wanted to testify in his defense but was not allowed to do so. Legal experts had advised that testifying could have posed significant risks, as prosecutors would have had the opportunity to cross-examine him, potentially creating additional legal and political challenges.
Trump emphasized the personal toll the legal battles have taken on him and those close to him. “It’s very bad for my family, it’s very bad for my friends and businesses,” he said, while also stating that he felt “honored” to stand up against what he described as the legal establishment.
Trump’s conviction and his vow to appeal come as he campaigns for reelection in the upcoming November presidential election, adding another layer of complexity to his already contentious political and legal landscape.
