Former US President Donald Trump, the first American head of state in history to be indicted, faced a Miami court on Tuesday after his team of lawyers delivered a heated response to his political enemies.
Trump was taken into the Miami courthouse in a motorcade after being charged with willful retention of national defense information. Alina Habba, one of Trump‘s lawyers, said in a furious statement outside the courthouse that looking into Trump‘s activities, “should terrify all citizens of this country.”
Habba accused politicians of creating a two–tiered system of justice to go after Trump. She attacked prosecutors in Russia, Fulton County, Georgia, and New York who are targeting her client.
“They have been quietly but aggressively cultivating a two–tiered system of justice. From the Russia hoax to the attorney generals to the corrupt DAs in Georgia and New York,” Habba said.
She specifically argued that former first lady Hillary Clinton, and President Joe Biden should also face charges for retaining classified documents.
“Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden himself, retained possession of classified documents that have not been prosecuted,” she said. “And none of them came into possession of those documents while they were president.”
The 37–count indictment against Trump, unsealed last Friday, charges that FBI agents found boxes of national security materials during a search of Mar–a–Lago, including nuclear information and a Pentagon attack plan on a country.
The former president‘s motorcade left Trump National Doral Miami to the Miami courthouse with Trump‘s aide, Walt Nauta. Hundreds of protesters and supporters gathered to greet Trump, including a group wearing ‘Blacks for Trump‘ t–shirts, and another man wearing the American flag and carrying a stick with a pig‘s head through it.
Once the motorcade went underneath the courthouse, Trump was processed and fingerprinted. When he appeared in front of the judge, the 37 charges were read.
Trump shared his fury on his Truth social media platform, accusing the Biden Administration of corruption.
“They pursue charges against President Trump while turning a blind eye to others is emblematic of the corruption that we have here,” Habba said, noting countries like Venezuela.
Meanwhile, outside the courthouse, Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy called on all presidential candidates to vow they would pardon Trump in the event of a conviction.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that 81 percent of Republicans believe the charges against Trump were politically motivated. The poll also showed Trump still leading his Republican party presidential nomination rivals, with 43 percent of voters expressing support.
Trump‘s team included loyal aides Jason Miller, Boris Epshteyn and Margo Martin. The former president is facing charges related to his handling of classified documents that included US nuclear secrets and intelligence on foreign countries.
We may never know the full truth of what happened to President Trump on Tuesday, but the show of support and loyalty from Trump‘s team and fans was clear to be seen. It was a stark indication of how divisive American politics has become.