Former President Donald Trump, who pleaded not guilty to multiple counts related to the mishandling of confidential documents after leaving office, received a warm reception at his New Jersey golf club on Tuesday night. Addressing a couple hundred supporters at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, Trump decried his prosecution as “political persecution reminiscent of a fascist or communist regime” and called for the case to be dropped, claiming it was detrimental to the country.
Earlier in the day, the 76-year-old Trump was arraigned on 37 counts, including 31 counts of illegal retention of national security material. Despite lacking evidence, he labeled special counsel Jack Smith a “deranged lunatic” and alleged that President Joe Biden orchestrated his persecution. Trump expressed sadness at witnessing what he called “the most egregious abuse of power in our nation’s history,” criticizing a sitting president for arresting his political opponents on fabricated charges that could apply to numerous past presidents.
Interrupting his speech, Trump requested the audience to sing “Happy Birthday” to him, as he turned 77 the following day. He sarcastically remarked on his birthday celebration, mentioning well-wishes from family members while being informed of his arrest and an alleged 400-year prison sentence.
The charges against Trump include conspiring to obstruct justice, withholding and concealing documents, making false statements, and scheming to hide evidence. According to the indictment, Trump and his bodyguard, Walt Nauta, transported boxes containing classified information from a ballroom to various locations at Mar-a-Lago over an extended period. Prosecutors assert that, at Trump’s direction, Nauta concealed some evidence from the former president’s lawyers, resulting in a false report to the Justice Department and FBI in 2022 regarding a “diligent search” in response to a grand jury subpoena. The FBI subsequently seized over a hundred secret files from Trump’s residence.
Trump compared his treatment to that of former Vice President Joe Biden, whose handling of sensitive information during his time in office is also under investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Trump accused Biden of violating the law and evading indictment, contrasting his own adherence to rules while still facing legal consequences.
Regarding the retained documents, Trump claimed he had not had sufficient time to review the classified materials from Mar-a-Lago and thus declined to return them upon request from the National Archives. He contended that he had the right, as per the Presidential Records Act, to access the boxes containing personal belongings and various items, emphasizing the tediousness of sorting through them amid a busy schedule.
Trump further alleged that Biden’s mishandling of sensitive documents was worse, citing the storage of classified paperwork in Biden’s garage, lacking proper protection and often left open due to the presence of Biden’s cherished Corvette.
Trump attributed his indictment to a diversionary tactic by the Biden administration, intending to shift attention away from corruption allegations related to the Biden family’s foreign business dealings. He specifically mentioned allegations that Joe Biden and his son Hunter received a $5 million bribe from Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma Holdings.
Despite some fellow Republicans distancing themselves from the details of the indictment, Trump attempted to portray his federal case as advantageous to his 2024 candidacy. He characterized it as part of a long-running witch hunt, beginning with the discredited claim that he hired prostitutes in Moscow during the 2016 election. Trump mentioned his impeachment in 2019 over the Ukraine investigation involving the Bidens, asserting that he was ultimately proven correct.
Referring to Senator Chuck Grassley’s revelation that the Burisma executive allegedly captured Joe Biden’s corruption on 17 tapes, Trump criticized the acceptance of foreign bribes by Biden and the “radical left” while urging Republicans to stand firm.
Trump warned his supporters that they, not just he, were the target of these actions, declaring his unwavering stance and promising justice on November 5, 2024. The crowd enthusiastically chanted “U-S-A!” upon his entrance and expressed displeasure toward Joe Biden with “Lock Him Up!” and derogatory chants throughout the speech.