The former President Donald Trump made several false statements while leaving or entering Manhattan’s courtroom for his ongoing trial regarding charges of falsifying business records during the 2016 presidential election related to a hush money scheme involving alleged extramarital affairs with women other than Melania. Below are fact checks on four such claims:
1) Courthouse security – Trump claimed that “for blocks you can’t get near this courthouse” and “this courthouse is locked down; there’s not a person within five blocks.” In reality, people are allowed to drive up right in front of the courtroom building or walk into it without any restrictions. There has been some security measure implemented by police officers enforcing street closures with barricades nearby but “this courthouse is locked down” and “there’s not a person within five blocks” statements are false as there have always been visible protesters across the courtroom building in designated protest zones.
2) Michael Cohen’s crimes – Trump falsely claimed that “the things he got in trouble for were things that had nothing to do with me.” While it’s true that some of Cohen’s offenses, such as his taxicab company and medallions borrowing issues, didn’t directly involve Trump; the three-year sentence imposed on him in 2018 was primarily due to campaign finance violations related to hush money payments made during the presidential election. Additionally, he pleaded guilty for lying about discussions between Trump’s team regarding building a Trump Tower Moscow and also misled Senate officials about this issue in previous hearings back in 2017 when they questioned him as part of their investigation into Russian interference with US elections.
3) Gag order on Trump – While Trump claimed that “I’m not allowed to talk” because he is subjected to a gag order, the actual restrictions are more specific and limited than what he portrayed them to be. The judge’s gag order does not prohibit him from making statements about the case or defending himself publicly, instead; it simply bans public disclosures about named witnesses called in court proceedings and prevents comments intended to influence potential jurors.
4) Biden’s involvement – Trump repeatedly claimed that “this trial is all Biden” and “he’s the one that has us in all these different lawsuits.” However, there are no grounds for such claims as neither Joe Biden nor his administration have any direct connection with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution of Donald Trump. Colangelo left a prior job to work at DA office, but it is unclear why Trump linked him and Biden together in this case since both worked separately before joining the district attorney’s office.
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