Trump vows to appeal 'scam conviction' after historic criminal trial

FRANCE 24

31 May 2024 at 11:00 am·1-min read

Donald Trump lashed out in rambling, angry comments Friday at his "sick" opponents and "fascists" after what he called a "very unfair" trial that made him the first former US president to become a convicted felon.

The 77-year-old Republican, who is neck and neck with President Joe Biden in the 2024 White House race, confirmed he would appeal.

"We're going to be appealing this scam," he said.

Trump was speaking at what was billed as a press conference in the upscale lobby of his signature Trump Tower property in Manhattan.

But after taking to the podium, he launched into an extraordinary 35 minutes of insults, non-factual claims and non-sequiturs that reflected his seething anger. He then left without taking questions.

Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over his trial, is a "tyrant", Trump said, claiming that Merchan "literally crucified" witnesses.

"This man who looks like an angel, but he is really a devil," he said in the remarks, which were carried live by all the major US television networks.

In addition to complaining that the jury trial was unfair, Trump frequently veered off into attacks on Biden and illegal immigrants, who he said were speaking "languages unknown" and include many terrorists, as well as "a lot of people" released from prisons.

Trump faces a potential prison sentence, but is much more likely to receive probation.

Biden himself said nothing about the momentous events in New York.

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