WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump on Monday revealed why he did not show up at his trial in Georgia last month on charges of election interference — citing his anger at courtroom cameras.
“Why do I have to fly to Atlanta only to hear over a dozen FALSE CHARGES hurled against me on live TV?” fumed Trump — who faces 13 counts in just the four most recent criminal indictments against him — in a fundraising email.
“A judge has ruled that all of my court proceedings in Atlanta will be broadcast for the whole country to see,” Trump said.
“The Democratic Communists don’t like me being caught in court on television as a way to keep me out of the campaign.
“But I refuse to play left-handed. That is why I have personally waived the formal trial and simply pleaded ‘NOT GUILTY’ to the charges in the Georgia witch hunt,” he said.
Trump, 77, is accused of violating Georgia’s anti-riot law, conspiracy, filing false documents, making false statements and soliciting public officials to violate their oaths of office so he can remain in power despite losing the 2020 presidential election.
Former President Donald Trump cited courtroom cameras as the reason why he didn’t go to the Fulton County, Georgia hearing in person.AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File
Judge Scott McAfee has allowed Trump’s trial to be broadcast and streamed live online. Photo by ARVIN TEMKAR/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
On Thursday, he signed a court document pleading not guilty, choosing to enter his plea on paper rather than face-to-face in front of a judge during the trial.
Although he did not make a public statement afterward, his campaign team released the email, citing Trump’s annoyance with Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee’s decision last week to allow the media to record court proceedings in the case.
Track all Trump allegations
Former President Donald Trump faces 91 charges in four separate criminal cases after he took office.
Here are all the legal troubles Trump will face as he heads into the 2024 election.
Mar-a-Lago classified documents
- Trump is the first former president to receive federal indictment.
Former President Donald Trump faces several allegations as he heads into the 2024 election. AFP via Getty Images
- Trump is accused of taking about 11,000 documents, some containing sensitive national security secrets, and stashing them haphazardly at his Palm Beach, Florida, estate.
- The most serious charge, in this case, carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Stormy Daniels ‘shut up money’
Former President Donald Trump is accused of falsifying business records in his “hush money” payments to Stormy Daniels. AP
- Trump’s lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 in exchange for her silence about the sexual encounters he alleged the two had.
- Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is trying to take the case to federal court. He is set to appear in court on January 4, 2024.
2020 election cancellation bid
- Special counsel Jack Smith charged the former president with four counts related to his attempt to nullify the 2020 election.
- Prosecutors allege that the 45th president’s ongoing allegations of electoral fraud that led to his re-election “are false and [Trump] know they are fake.”
Supporters of President Donald Trump storm the US Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021. AP
- The indictment is the second brought by Smith against the 77-year-old Trump.
- A group of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, following his speech on the Ellipse.
- Charges against the former president include violations of Georgia’s anti-extortion laws, conspiracy, false statements, and soliciting a public official to violate their oath of office.
Georgia 2020 election investigation
- Trump and 18 of his allies and supporters have been indicted by a Georgia grand jury in connection with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the Peach State.
- The former president faces 13 charges in the case, according to a docket posted prematurely to the Fulton County Superior Court website around noon.
New York civil case
- The former president was sued by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
- James claims Trump and his three children lied to banks about his assets and net worth in the billions.
- He is seeking a $250 million fine and a ban on Trump doing business in New York state.
(From right) Trump and his children Ivanka, Don Jr. and Eric are named in James’ suit.AP
- In another civil case, Trump was found liable for sexually assaulting and defaming author E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s.
- Carroll was awarded $5 million in damages from Trump.
- Trump was found not guilty of rape after a jury rejected Carroll’s claim that Trump raped her in Bergdorf Goodman’s fitting room.
In a fundraising message, Trump asked his supporters to “please donate to defend our peaceful movement from endless attacks,” before adding a caveat: “If you’re doing badly because of the very sad state of our country, right now, then don’t think to donate!”
The money-making email also included a screenshot of the former president’s signature on a court document used to enter his plea.
Court papers, written by his attorney, refer to him by his chosen title: “President” Donald Trump.
Trump shot after he was booked into the Fulton County Jail. Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via AP
A protester calls for Trump’s conviction outside the Fulton County Jail before his arrival on August 24, 2023.AP Photo/Ben Gray
The introduction of the official title came after he was reportedly “upset” that the judge presiding over his trial last month in DC District Court referred to him as “Mr. Trump,” dropping the formalities to which he was accustomed.
Since then, his lawyers have routinely referred to him as “President Trump,” “my client” or “the defendant” in court proceedings.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
