Trump Criticizes Hush-Money Case Before Jury Selection Begins

(DailyVantage.com) – Former president Donald Trump once again blasted the “hush money” lawsuit against him in remarks just before jury selection for the trial begins, calling the proceedings a form of “political persecution” against him.

Trump’s hush money trial will be the first time a former president of the U.S. is tried on criminal charges. The former chief executive is fighting off 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to his alleged payoff for Stormy Daniels, a former adult film actress with whom he allegedly had an affair in 2006. Prosecutors claim that Trump attempted to cover up his $130,000 payment to Daniels for her to keep silent about their relationship, an agreement they claim had potentially a material impact on his successful 2016 presidential run.

“This is an assault on America,” Trump said of the case against him, adding that “every legal scholar” believes that the case is without merit. The former president also alluded to President Joe Biden as the orchestrator of the legal campaign against him.

“It’s a country [the U.S.] that’s run by an incompetent man… involved in this case,” Trump said.

In separate comments, his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump – who is married to Trump’s son Eric – echoed the sentiments, calling the trial a “meritless clown show.” She also agreed with her father-in-law’s assessment, saying that the supposedly liberal leftist attempt to limit Trump’s time on the campaign trail was an assault on the democracy of America itself.

Aside from the case itself, Trump has also antagonized Justice Juan Merchan, whom he has repeatedly called on to recuse himself from the case. Trump has claimed that Merchan’s daughter, who belongs to an organization that has worked with several Democratic personalities, is creating a conflict of interest.

In response, Merchan has issued a gag order against Trump, barring him from speaking against court officers’ family members, witnesses, or members of the jury. To date, prosecutors say that Trump has violated the order several times.