Trump Calls Court Ruling a ‘Pathetic, UnAmerican Witch Hunt’ in First Remarks
President-elect Donald Trump issued a scathing statement on Friday, calling the New York falsified business records case a “pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt” following his sentence of unconditional discharge. The case, which had been a focal point of political and legal battles for over six years, ended with a sentencing that involved no formal punishment.
Trump’s reaction was swift and firm. “The Radical Democrats have lost another pathetic, unAmerican Witch Hunt,” he wrote in a Truth Social post.
He criticized the time and resources spent on the investigation, claiming the focus should have been on addressing violent crime in New York instead. He pointed to what he called the “weaponization” of the justice system by the Biden/Harris administration and labeled the charges against him as “baseless, illegal, and fake.”
In his statement, Trump made it clear that he believed the case against him was without merit.
“This result alone proves that, as all Legal Scholars and Experts have said, THERE IS NO CASE, THERE WAS NEVER A CASE, and this whole Scam fully deserves to be DISMISSED,” he wrote.
The former and future president also emphasized the American people’s decision to re-elect him with an overwhelming mandate in the 2020 election, suggesting the case had no factual foundation.
Trump’s comments came after Judge Juan Merchan’s sentencing order, in which he confirmed that Trump would not face further legal consequences at this stage. However, Merchan noted that Trump’s right to appeal the case remains open.
“Defendant must be permitted to avail himself of every available appeal,” the judge stated, per The Post Millennial.
On Thursday night, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt Trump’s sentencing, voting 5-4. Justice Amy Coney Barrett sided with the majority, voting against Trump’s request. The ruling was a setback for Trump, though the four conservative justices—Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh—voted in favor of his appeal.
Trump took aim at the case, calling it a “terrible experience” and a “setback for New York,” per the Daily Mail. Speaking remotely at the sentencing, he claimed the case had been politically motivated.
“This was done to damage my reputation,” he said.
He also criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for pursuing a case that Trump believes Bragg never wanted to bring in the first place.
Additionally, Trump attacked his former attorney and key witness in the case, Michael Cohen, referring to him as a “totally discredited person.” Trump noted that Cohen had been disbarred and dismissed his testimony.
“He’s not George Washington,” Trump said, underscoring his disdain for Cohen’s involvement in the case.
Many Republicans voiced their frustrations with the court ruling. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) criticized New York Judge Juan Merchan and local prosecutors for what he described as “untold damage to our justice system” after Trump’s sentencing.
He called the case against Trump a politically motivated “witch hunt” designed to prevent him from returning to the White House, emphasizing that the case was never based on the facts and should not have been brought in the first place.
Johnson accused Merchan of manipulating the law to turn a minor misdemeanor charge into a felony for partisan purposes. He also criticized the prosecution, claiming it had tarnished the justice system with their actions.
Despite these efforts, Johnson argued that the American people, as the only important jury, saw through the corruption and rejected the government’s weaponization. He expressed strong support for Trump’s decision to appeal the ruling, aiming to restore trust in the system and move past what he called a “shameful chapter” in American history.
Despite the court’s decision, Trump will still be the first person in U.S. history to enter the White House as a convicted felon, though the discharge means no further immediate legal consequences. As Trump prepares for his inauguration in just 10 days, the case is expected to remain a topic of debate and ongoing legal proceedings.
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It’s pretty obvious how despicable this judge is and what a horrible human being to have a jury make up anything to find Trump guilty of something where the legal litigation term had expired. How did this joke of a judge create a felony out of minor misdemeanor, at best.