Former President Donald Trump criticized Judge Juan Merchan and denounced the hush money trial as a 'scam' during his departure from the Manhattan courthouse on Monday. Trump expressed his belief that the ongoing legal proceedings were detrimental to democracy in the United States, referring to them as a 'terrible thing.'
Trump further characterized the case as a 'rigged deal' and questioned the impartiality of Judge Merchan, labeling him as 'conflicted.'
Quoting his allies, Trump asserted that there was no evidence of fraud or criminal activity in the trial. He dismissed the allegations against him, emphasizing his innocence in the matter.
Trump's remarks outside the courthouse reflected his continued defiance against the legal challenges he faces, maintaining his stance that the accusations against him are unfounded. The former president's vocal criticism of the trial and the presiding judge underscored the contentious nature of the proceedings.