In light of a recent superseding indictment that includes additional charges against him, former President Donald Trump has fired back, labeling the actions as “harassment” and accusing it of interfering with election processes. The indictment also implicates Trump’s valet, Walt Nauta, and introduces Carlos De Oliveira, the head of maintenance at Mar-a-Lago, as a co-defendant.
Trump expressed his discontent with the charges issued by the Justice Department under President Biden’s administration. He argued that the Presidential Records Act offers him protection, thus rendering the entire case unnecessary. Furthermore, he criticized President Biden for mishandling documents and claimed that the DOJ has disregarded Biden’s actions while relentlessly pursuing him.
Reacting to the superseding indictment and the added charges, Trump outright denounced them as harassment and election interference, stating, “I just heard it as I’m sitting down. This is harassment. This is election interference.” He vented his frustration at what he perceived as an unjust two-tier system, claiming to be unfairly targeted while alleging that Biden’s actions have been overlooked.
During the interview, Trump also touched on his plans if he were to be elected president again. He voiced his intention to dismiss Special Counsel Jack Smith, citing previous unsuccessful cases prosecuted by Smith’s office against other politicians, such as former Virginia GOP Governor Bob McDonnell and former Senator John Edwards. Both cases resulted in setbacks for the prosecution.
While acknowledging the possibility of a separate case related to the events of January 6, Trump expressed hope that he wouldn’t face charges in relation to the documents case. He reiterated his belief in his innocence, asserting that he had done nothing wrong, and maintained confidence in his popularity among the public.
Throughout the interview, Trump maintained that the charges brought against him have actually bolstered his popularity rather than diminishing it. He suggested that the public perceives the charges as an attempt to sabotage his bid for the GOP nomination, but instead, they have only strengthened his lead in primary and general election polls.