Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
Inside Washington email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
Former president Donald Trump floated his potential defence for the charges he may face for promoting lies about the election during a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania.
The already-twice-impeached and twice-indicted former president now faces a potential third indictment for spreading lies about the 2020 presidential election and the attack on the Capitol that was fuelled by them.
But speaking to the crowd in Pennsylvania, a state where he lost 43 lawsuits as he tried to dispute the 2020 presidential election results, Mr Trump pushed back on the potential accusations.
“Why didn’t the corrupt Marxist prosecutors bring these radical and unjustified charges against me two and a half years ago,” Mr Trump asked the crowd. “They had two and a half years. Two and a half years. Nobody even knew they were looking at it. I don’t think they were.”
Recommended Trump’s election fraud claims were always bogus. Will his history of lies finally catch up to him? Trump indictment – live: Trump’s ‘Hitler’ lawsuit against CNN thrown out ahead of rally in Pennsylvania
Mr Trump said with no evidence that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s office waited as long as it did to indict him in the middle of his 2024 presidential campaign.
“Because it’s election interference,” he said. “These are crooked people.”
Mr Trump repeated his continued lies that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and questioned why the press did not call Pennsylvania for him in the 2016 or 2020 presidential election.
“They just refused to call it because, in my opinion, they were trying to cheat and they couldn't quite pull it off,” he told the crowd.
Promoted stories
Coolsculpting | Search ads
Singapore: Belly Fat Removal Without Surgery. The Cost Might Surprise YouCoolsculpting | Search ads
Undo
by Taboola by Taboola
Sponsored Links Sponsored Links
Promoted Links Promoted Links
So far, Mr Trump has been indicted by the district attorney for New York County’s office for charges related to hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and by Mr Smith’s office for his handling of documents related to national security. Mr Trump pled not guilty to all charges.
Mr Trump also railed against Fani Willis, the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, who is investigating Mr Trump’s attempts overturn the election results in the state.
“So they have a DA there that doesn't do anything about crime,” he said. “All she does is focus on ‘let’s get Trump.’ We got to get him.”
The former president said he was being treated unfairly and said that Democrats made far more inflammatory statements than he did in the past.
GOP presidential hopeful booed off for claiming Trump is running to stay out of prison
“They want to silence me because I will never let them silence you,” he said. “That's what it's all about.”
Despite facing multiple charges, Mr Trump continues to lead every poll for the Republican primary both nationally and in the early primary states including Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.
Similarly, he feted how he held a decisive lead against his closest competitor, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis.
“A lot of people say just saying this is dropping out of the race,” he said. “I don't know that that's true, but I wouldn't be surprised. He should. Because I think he's absolutely killed himself for [2028].”
Similarly, he mocked how his former vice president Mike Pence polled in single digits and former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson barely registered in the polls.
Recommended Joe Biden, America's oldest sitting president, needs young voters to win again. Will his age matter? Who's in, who's out: A look at which candidates have qualified for the 1st GOP presidential debate Trump road tests election lies defence at rally in Pennsylvania – live
In addition, he criticised President Joe Biden, using a vulgar epithet for him.
“We have somebody who is not at the top of his game,” he said. “Never was at the top of a game. Never was. We have a guy who is a dumb son of a b***h.”
More about Donald Trump Pennsylvania Erie Joe Biden
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
1/ 1Trump rehearses defence over election lies charges in Pennsylvania
Trump rehearses defence over election lies charges in Pennsylvania
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Erie, Pa
AP
Promoted stories
Next Level Options Masterclass
Learning To Invest With This Community Allows Me To Travel Any Time To AnywhereNext Level Options Masterclass| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
PanzerQuest
If you have a mouse, this game will keep you awake all night long.PanzerQuest| Sponsored Sponsored
Undo
The Next Level Options Masterclass
This Investing System Has Helped 7,292 Students Earn Consistent Monthly IncomeLearn how the rich are investing to earn extra profits in a chaotic stock market.The Next Level Options Masterclass| Sponsored Sponsored
Learn More
Undo
？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in