Former President Donald Trump addressed his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, claiming that the case was politically orchestrated by President Joe Biden and his administration. However, the case was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a state-level prosecutor, and Biden has no control over the prosecution. Trump also falsely claimed that his election expert was not allowed to testify, but the judge did not bar the expert and it was the decision of Trump’s legal team not to call him. Additionally, Trump inaccurately stated that the statute of limitations had passed, but the deadline was extended due to pandemic-era executive orders.
Trump further made misleading claims about terrorists pouring into the country and Chinese migrants building an army in the United States, despite federal authorities stating that the number of individuals on the terrorist watch list entering the U.S. is minimal. He also falsely asserted that crime in New York City is at record levels, when in fact, crime reports have decreased compared to previous years. Trump faces a maximum sentence of 187 years for his convictions, but the actual punishment is up to the judge and there is no guarantee of prison time.
Additionally, Trump inaccurately described his convictions as misdemeanors for falsifying business records, when in reality, they are Class E felonies in New York. He also falsely claimed that the charges were related to a federal election, when Manhattan prosecutors charged him with violations of state election law. The jury had to consider whether Trump falsified business records to commit or conceal another crime, such as a violation of state election laws. Overall, Trump’s comments during his address contained numerous false or unsupported claims, reflecting his ongoing efforts to downplay the severity of his legal troubles.
