(Washington) Indicted in New York, Donald Trump announced Sunday that he will speak from his residence in Florida on Tuesday, the day he is due to appear in court in Manhattan, and is preparing for the “battle” according to his lawyers.
The former US president “will deliver a speech at Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach” at 8:15 p.m. local time, his office said in a statement.
In an unprecedented move in US history, the 76-year-old Republican is being charged in a case related to a $130,000 payout to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016. Charges will be handed down public on Tuesday.
The billionaire denounces a “bogus and shameful” charge, according to him as part of a “witch hunt”.
On Sunday, his lawyers continued the media offensive, claiming to be optimistic that the case would be rejected by a judge as wobbly.
“This case is not even legally sound. In terms of facts, it’s a joke. She won’t survive a court challenge,” one of them, Joe Tacopina, told ABC.
“I think a fair judge will probably recognize that something is fundamentally wrong, that we’re crossing the Rubicon with this political persecution,” another Trump lawyer, James Trusty, told Fox.
“And fortunately, I suspect the indictment will be legally shaky, and the opportunity will arise for a judge to do what is right,” he added.
In the meantime, the ex-president is “preparing for battle,” Tacopina said.
The two lawyers further insisted that Donald Trump, who aims to return to the White House after losing the 2020 presidential election, was targeted for political reasons.
The Republican is expected, according to US media, to leave his Florida residence on Monday to travel to New York.
On Tuesday, he must appear in a Manhattan court to be formally served with the charges against him.
“This is an absolute abuse of power,” Joe Tacopina ranted. “He’s a badass […], and he’s someone who’s going to be ready for this battle,” he added on ABC.
Tuesday’s summons must give rise to an unprecedented ritual for a former head of state: the billionaire will have to state his name, age, profession, submit to fingerprinting and be photographed, like all warned.
