Donald Trump says 'shocked' by indictment but 'ready to fight'
The Hindu
Former U.S. President Donald Trump on March 31 vowed to fight all charges after a New York grand jury indicted Mr. Trump over a $130,000 hush-money payment made to a porn star to buy her silence during his 2016 campaign.
Donald Trump's legal team went on the offensive on March 31 following his historic indictment, vowing the former President would never seek a plea deal and was ready "to fight" all charges.
The 76-year-old Trump, who is hoping to recapture the White House in 2024, chimed in with attacks on the prosecutors who brought the charges against him and even the judge expected to hear the case.
"ELECTION INTERFERENCE, KANGAROO COURT!" Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, adding that Juan Manuel Marchal, the judge who may preside over an eventual trial, "hates me."
Mr. Trump is to be booked, fingerprinted and will have a mugshot taken at a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday afternoon before appearing before a judge as the first ever American President to face criminal charges.
“The President will not be put in handcuffs,” said Joe Tacopina, one of Trump’s attorneys, adding that he does not believe prosecutors will “allow this to become a circus”.
Mr. Tacopina said the hush-money case being brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg against Mr. Trump faces "substantial legal challenges" and the former President would plead not guilty.
There is "zero" chance Mr. Trump would accept a plea deal, he told NBC's Today show. "It's not going to happen. There's no crime."
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