Former President Donald Trump called for an immediate halt to the various prosecutions he is facing on Monday, alleging that their timing amounts to election interference by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In a Truth Social post, President Trump said that, as the Republican 2024 presidential frontrunner, he should not be subject to “fake prosecutions” before the 2024 general election.
“This is communism and a threat to democracy,” President Trump declared.
He accused the DOJ of orchestrating investigations strategically to impede his political activities during the 2024 election.
“All political prosecutions of your favorite President, me, must stop immediately. We are in the middle of an election, perhaps the most important election in the history of our country, and these radical left lunatic prosecutors and judges are not allowed to be doing this,” President Trump said.
“Why didn’t they start three years ago??? Because they wanted to interfere with the presidential election of 2024, that’s why!”
The former president cited the DOJ’s “justice manual” and specifically referenced Section 9-85.500, added in August 2022, which prohibits federal prosecutors and agents from timing actions for the purpose of affecting an election.
President Trump asserted that the DOJ’s actions violate this provision, which specifically bars actions that include “investigative steps, criminal charges, or statements, for the purpose of affecting any election, or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party.”
“Such a purpose is inconsistent with the Department’s mission and with the Principles of Federal Prosecution. Any action likely to raise an issue or the perception of an issue under this provision requires consultation with the Public Integrity Section, and such action shall not be taken if the Public Integrity Section advises that further consultation is required with the Deputy Attorney General or Attorney General,” the manual states.
‘Fake Prosecutions’
President Trump is facing 91 charges across four criminal cases related to “hush money” payments before the 2016 elections, his attempts to challenge the results of the 2020 elections, and the handling of classified documents. This is in addition to the civil cases involving his businesses. He has framed these cases as politically motivated.
Next month, he faces a criminal trial in Manhattan for the alleged falsification of business records related to a “hush money” payment made during the 2016 campaign. This is the first time a U.S. president will face a criminal trial. In this case, he has also claimed political bias from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, and Justice Juan Merchan.
“This is election interference and must be immediately stopped. I should not have to go through any fake prosecutions before the election. This is communism and a threat to democracy. Our country will not stand for it. Make America Great Again!!!” President Trump emphasized in his post.
The call for a halt to prosecutions follows a recent ruling by Justice Arthur Engoron, who found President Trump liable for a $355 million fine and barred him from operating The Trump Organization in New York for three years.
The former president, along with his co-defendants, including his sons Eric and Donald Jr., have maintained their innocence and asserted that the judge and New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, are politically motivated.
The judge and attorney general have denied this.
In response to the ruling, a lawyer for President Trump, Chris Kise, said the case raised “serious legal and constitutional questions” about claims and findings of fraud “without any actual fraud.” The former president’s legal team intends to challenge the judge’s definition of fraud.
Ms. James brought the lawsuit against President Trump and his co-defendants in 2022. Justice Engoron found President Trump liable and ruled that he inflated his assets to get better loans weeks before the trial began.
In a subsequent Truth Social post on Monday night, President Trump, showing his dissatisfaction argued that he and The Trump Organization faced legal scrutiny despite no complaints or financial problems with his company.
“I have substantially understated my assets in the Financial Statements, not overstated them, as the Corrupt A.G. and ‘Judge’ said,” he wrote. “Also, 100% Disclaimer Clause, No Default, No Victims, No Complaints, No ‘Nothing,’ except for success from the banks and everyone else.”
The former president said last week that there were “no victims because the banks made a lot of money.”
President Trump further stated that the New York judge “fraudulently” undervalued his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida at $18 million to build a “fake case,” and asserted that both the New York attorney general and President Joe Biden “should be the ones under investigation, not me.”
He tagged his post by repeating his assertion that the case amounts to election interference. “MAGA2024,” he added.
In addition to the judgment against President Trump, the judge ordered his sons to pay $4 million each and banned them from doing business in New York state for two years. Two executives, Allen Weisselberg and Jeff McConney, were barred from serving as company officers for three years.
Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
From The Epoch Times
