'Political persecution': Trump launches fresh tirade after historic federal indictment
Bedminster, New Jersey: Donald Trump has used the historic federal charges against him to ratchet up his presidential campaign, branding his indictment as political persecution designed to stop him from winning the 2024 election.
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Is this indictment politically motivated?
Hours after he pleaded not guilty to 37 counts related to the mishandling of classified documents, Trump also launched a fresh tirade against Special Counsel Jack Smith - the former war crimes prosecutor who was appointed by the Justice Department to oversee the investigation - branding him a "deranged" thug.
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How many counts is he indicted on?
"This is called election interference and yet another attempt to rig and steal a presidential election," he said.
"More importantly, it's political persecution, like something straight out of a fascist or communist nation."