Former President Donald Trump blasted New York state Judge Juan Merchan, prosecutors and the historic verdict that their case led to after he was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records on Thursday.
In a speech billed as a news conference at Trump Tower, Mr. Trump said he would have testified during the trial and wanted to testify, but he said: "The theory is you never testify because as soon as you testify ... they'll get you on something that you said slightly wrong, and then they sue you for perjury, but I didn't care about that. I wanted to."
He continued: "This is a scam. There's a rigged trial. It shouldn't have been in that venue. We shouldn't have had that judge."
During his remarks, Mr. Trump also complained about his own lawyers and vowed to appeal the jury's guilty verdict "on many different things."
Mr. Trump called the trial "ridiculous," and claimed that he is "going to jail for 187 years." The crime of falsifying business records, a class E felony, is punishable by fine, probation or up to four years in prison per count. Legal experts say he is unlikely to face a long sentence as a first-time, non-violent offender, and might not go to jail at all. Experts also say any sentence would be imposed concurrently, not consecutively.
His sentencing is scheduled for July 11, which is four days before the Republican National Convention begins -- where he's poised to officially become the 2024 Republican presidential nominee.
Mr. Trump wrapped his remarks by saying that Election Day, Nov. 5, is "the most important day in the history of our country." He then walked away without taking questions from reporters.
In his first remarks since the verdict, President Biden took a swipe at Mr. Trump's attacks on the justice system.
"It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict," Biden said, speaking to reporters at the White House.
