Former US President Donald Trump has stated that he will not beg for mercy following his conviction on 34 felony counts in Manhattan last week. Speaking to Fox News, Trump dismissed the possibility of a custodial sentence or even house arrest as “terrible” and said that he was okay with going to jail if necessary.
The interview followed Trump’s conviction for falsifying business records in order to conceal payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels as part of a “catch-and-kill” scheme during the 2016 election campaign. Legal experts believe it is unlikely that Trump will end up behind bars, with sentencing set for July 11th.
Despite his conviction, Trump continues to seek re-election in this year’s presidential race and insists that he remains the target of a politically motivated “witch hunt.” He has criticized the gag order imposed by the presiding judge in his case, describing it as unfair.
Trump also took issue with President Joe Biden’s reaction when asked about Trump calling himself a “political prisoner” and blaming him for his treatment. He said it was “terrible” that Biden appeared to be amused by the question.
The former president went on to accuse Biden of being “the worst president in the history of this country, and he’s a danger to the country.” He argued that the trial against him represented an example of the weaponization of the justice system for political purposes, something he described as “a very dangerous thing” and “something we’ve never had in this country.
Trump also spoke about how the trial has affected his family, particularly his wife, Melania Trump. He said that while she is coping well with the situation, it is likely more difficult for her than for him due to the negative media attention.
