Donald Trump maintains presidential bid despite conviction, plea for retrial.
Former US President Donald Trump remains defiant in his 2024 presidential ambitions despite a criminal conviction in New York. His lawyer, Alina Habba, insisted to BBC that nothing would deter Trump’s run for office, calling the verdict politically motivated.
A Manhattan jury had found him guilty of 34 counts of falsifying records related to hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016.
Habba labeled the prosecution as selective and said corruption permeated the trial process. However, President Joe Biden termed such claims reckless attempts to undermine the justice system.
Trump is slated for sentencing on July 11 but seeks to overturn the outcome. He criticized the judge and witnesses post-verdict, drawing criticism for threatening remarks.
Daniels, who testified against Trump, earlier wore a bulletproof vest, fearing violence from his supporters.
Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign redoubled appeals to maintain financing, alleging conspiracies to jail or harm him permanently.
While legal experts say the maximum punishment is unlikely, Trump’s conviction poses challenges given the bitter political divisions ahead of November polls.
It remains to be seen if courts will grant his plea for a retrial, as he remains combative on the campaign trail. Both sides seem entrenched in sparring over the controversial case’s implications.
