While mainstream media sought to disparage former President Donald Trump's legal team for not opting for a jury trial, Trump said not being given the option was "railroading" and another way "they've weaponized justice in our country."
"This witch-hunt that's going on, using statute 63(12) — which is a consumer-fraud statute, which may be unconstitutional — doesn't allow me a jury, doesn't allow me anything," Trump told reporters before entering the courtroom on Day 3 of New York Democrat Attorney General Letitia James' $250 million civil trial against him.
"We have a prosecutor, Letitia James, who's incompetent, and what she's doing to our state, forcing companies out by the thousands — people like that are forcing companies out."
Trump and his legal spokeswoman Alina Habba have rebuked media reports claiming the legal team opted out of a jury trial in favor of Justice Arthur Engoron being the judge and jury in the civil case against the former president.
"So, this witch-hunt does not allow me to have a jury," Trump continued. "A lot of people are saying, 'Oh, that can't be; somebody didn't check a box.' It has nothing to do with it. Under 63(12), you are not entitled to a jury.
"It's the first time it's ever been used. It's never been used for a purpose like this — never been used. They used it on me, the former president, the leading candidate. I'm leading Joe Biden by a lot — probably the only reason this is all happening, not probably, definitely. They're coordinating with Washington 100%."
Having a noted anti-Trump judge is further evidence of a judicial system rigged against him, according to Trump.
"They've weaponized justice in our country," Trump psaid. "This trial is a disgrace. Never happened. A thing like this has never happened before."
Also, James has politically campaigned on a platform to "get Trump," further exposing the case as election interference before the 2024 presidential election, Trump argued.
"I got sued years later by this horrible attorney general: This woman that ran for governor and failed," he said. "You know, she did this because she was running for governor, and then she ran and she felt she had no polls and they forced her out.
"And she came back and she became attorney general again and we got stuck with her."
The $250 million lawsuit was strategically brought in New York, under a system that would have an anti-Trump judge, he added.
"She brought the case under the statute that had never been used for things like this, ever," he said. "I'm not entitled to a jury — because if I had a jury, even though it's in New York and I think I'd do fine with New York — if I had a jury, I would win this case very easily, but I don't have a jury.
"And you see what's happening? This is a railroading, and it's the beginning of communism in our country. This is the beginning of communism. So, we're going back in, playing the game and doing everything right."
Trump also addressed calls for him to run to be the next House speaker before going into the court for what he called "a shame for our country."
"That's why New York State is failing, and that's why companies are leaving by the thousands," Trump concluded of James' "weaponized" justice.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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