Former President Donald Trump said he believes he has “every right” to use the justice system to go after his political opponents if he returns to the White House.
What you need to know
- Former President Donald Trump said he believes he has “every right” to use the justice system to go after his political opponents if he returns to the White House.
- But in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Trump softened his stance from the previous day on whether he would ultimately seek retribution following the New York conviction.
- Trump’s comments were a 180-degree turn from the previous day, when he told Newsmax that “it’s very likely.” [criminal prosecutions] The same thing will happen to his political opponents under the next president he is running for.”
- “America has seen Donald Trump angry and visibly shaken by his felony conviction. He has clearly lost his mind and his candidacy becomes more dangerous by the day,” the Biden campaign said.
But in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday night, Trump softened his stance from the day before on whether he would ultimately seek retaliation following his conviction in New York last week on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide payments to porn actresses.
“Look, once this election is over, I have every right to go after them based on what they’ve done, and it’s easy because it’s Joe Biden,” Trump said, alleging that the Biden family committed multiple crimes — the same allegations House Republicans investigated but could not prove.
But Trump has signaled he will resist prosecuting his political opponents.
“This should not happen,” the Republican presidential candidate said. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
After the interview, the Biden campaign said Trump “clearly lost his temper.”
“America has seen Donald Trump angry and visibly upset after his felony conviction. He has clearly lost his mind and his candidacy becomes more dangerous by the day,” campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said. “Donald Trump is consumed with personal grievances and doesn’t care who he hurts as long as it benefits him.”
Trump’s comments were a 180-degree turn from the previous day, when he told Newsmax that “it’s very likely.” [criminal prosecutions] The same thing will happen to his political opponents under the next president he is running for.”
“This is a terrible precedent for our country,” he told Newsmax. “Will the next president do the same to them? That’s the real question.”
In the Fox interview, Trump alleged, without evidence, that the criminal case against him involved “incredible criminal activity.”
Asked if he would restore equal application of the law and end what many Republicans call the political weaponization of the Justice Department, Trump replied, “We have to. But that’s a terrible thing.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed the New York lawsuit is politically motivated. Trump and other Republicans have also baselessly alleged that Biden and his administration are behind the prosecution. Both Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland have denied any involvement.
Biden has also denied having any involvement in the federal prosecutions of Trump in Miami and Washington, and Garland has appointed special counsel Jack Smith to conduct his own investigations.
