Former President Donald Trump recently indicated that he would accept a severe sentence following his conviction last week in a New York hush money trial, a case he has vehemently labeled as a “scam.” During an interview on "Fox & Friends Weekend" that aired on Sunday, Trump expressed his refusal to employ a legal strategy that involves pleading for leniency.
“I’m okay with it,” Trump responded when questioned about the possibility of house arrest or even jail time. “I saw one of my lawyers the other day on television saying, ‘Oh, no, you don’t want to do that to the president.’ I said, don’t, you know, beg for anything. It’s just the way it is.”
Trump acknowledged that incarceration “could happen,” adding, “I don’t know that the public would stand for it, you know.” He further commented, “I think it’d be tough for the public to take. You know, at a certain point, there’s a breaking point.”
Trump on a potential prison sentence : "I'm ok with it"
Says he told his lawyer not to show weakness and beg the judge. This man has no fear. pic.twitter.com/srstiQFAA7
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) June 2, 2024
A jury found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up payments aimed at concealing a tryst with adult film star Stormy Daniels, as part of a “catch-and-kill” scheme to influence the 2016 election. While jail time is a possibility, many legal experts doubt that Trump will actually serve time behind bars. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 11.
Trump, who has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to the charges, announced his intention to appeal the verdict, calling the trial a “scam.” He reiterated this stance during the Fox News interview, highlighting his strong poll numbers and substantial fundraising success post-verdict.
“People get it. It’s a scam,” Trump asserted during the interview.
"Donald Trump refers to himself as a political prisoner and blames you directly. What's your response to that, sir?"
BIDEN (CONFUSED):
*stops*
*smirks*
*shuffles away* pic.twitter.com/0GKm327Qy1
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 31, 2024
As Trump seeks re-election this year, he faces three other criminal investigations at both state and federal levels. He has consistently claimed these inquiries are part of a politically motivated “witch hunt.” It remains uncertain whether any of these cases will reach the trial stage before the November election. Notably, Trump is eligible to run for office despite his conviction.
During the interview, Trump also criticized a gag order imposed by the presiding judge. When asked about President Joe Biden’s reaction to Trump labeling himself a “political prisoner” and blaming Biden directly for his situation, Trump said Biden smirking at the reporter’s question was “terrible.”
Trump did not hold back in his critique of Biden, calling him “the worst president in the history of this country, and he’s a danger to the country.” He dismissed the claims of being a “threat to democracy” as baseless rhetoric, arguing, “They have misinformation. ‘Donald Trump is a threat to democracy.’ It’s just words. He doesn’t even know what it means. But it’s like their slogan: I’m a threat to democracy. I’m the opposite. They’re the threat to democracy.”
Trump's defiant stance underscores his belief in the politically charged nature of his legal troubles, positioning himself as a resilient figure fighting against what he perceives as systemic injustice.