In a revealing interview on Sunday with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, former President Donald Trump boldly declared that he considers his recent indictment charges to be a “badge of honor.” Trump’s remarks came as he discussed his legal battles during the wide-ranging conversation.
The former president finds himself facing two distinct indictments, each brought forth by prominent legal figures. The first indictment stems from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office, which alleges Trump’s involvement in the payment of $130,000 in hush money by his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The second indictment, overseen by Special Counsel Jack Smith, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, involves 34 counts related to the alleged storage of classified documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
Unfazed by the charges, Trump asserted that they should be seen as a representation of his unwavering dedication to the American people. The former president claimed that both Bragg’s office and the Department of Justice under President Joe Biden intentionally singled him out for targeting. Trump suggested that these legal actions were part of a larger effort to undermine his influence and disrupt his ongoing contributions to the political landscape.
“The people of our country get it. As far as I’m concerned, I consider it a badge of honor. To be indicted, I would consider a badge because I am doing it for the country and I am doing it for the people,” Trump said.
“Look, I’m fighting for, I think 225-250 million people. I think that’s the real number, okay? I’m fighting for a lot of people. That’s much more important than me.”
He then compared the criminal charges of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort to the first son Hunter Biden, who agreed to plead guilty to illegally purchasing a gun and to failing to pay his taxes in 2017 and 2018 in exchange for avoiding jail time. A jury found Manafort guilty on eight counts of tax evasion and bank fraud in 2018.
“Hunter Biden got a traffic ticket,” Trump said. “Compare Hunter Biden to Paul Manafort. Paul Manafort was put in solitary confinement, they wanted to destroy him. All they wanted him to do was say something bad about me. This guy had tremendous courage. He said ‘I’m not gonna lie. I can’t say anything bad. Trump is a great president. He’s a great president, I’m not gonna do it.’ He went into solitary confinement over nothing compared to what Hunter Biden’s done.”
Trump warned other Republican presidents will be falsely charged and intentionally targeted by federal prosecutors.
“The point is this. Any other Republican that gets this position will be attacked the same way. These are fascists, they’re communists, they’re Marxist, they’re radical left Democrats. They’re sick people,” he concluded.
The former president said the indictment is “ridiculous” and has continued to deny any wrongdoing. He pleaded not guilty to the charges brought by Bragg and the 34 counts related to the classified documents.
