Donald Trump has claimed Manhattan’s prosecutor dropped a criminal investigation into a hush money payment to a porn star a week after claiming he would be arrested within days.
The former president told a small group of reporters aboard his private jet Saturday night that given the recent evidence, prosecutors had little choice but to give up.
With an open-necked shirt and a bottle of Diet Coke by his side, Trump cut a relaxed figure as he traveled back from his campaign’s first rally in Waco, Texas — and fumed at every suggestion he’d branded in recent days as ” frustrating” felt.
“I have no idea what’s going to happen…” he said. “I think they’ve already closed the case. As far as I know… I think it was dropped.
“But I believe if anything ever happened to the case, it’s a fake case.”
Earlier Saturday, Trump told fans in Waco that Bragg had “nothing” against him. He insists a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels weeks before the October 2016 election was not a campaign finance violation. Trump also denies having a one-night stand with the actor in 2006.
Donald Trump speaks to reporters, including , on his plane as he returns from Waco, Texas on Saturday. He said he believes the Manhattan Attorney’s Office is dropping the case
Trump shared his claim that Alvin Bragg dropped the case on him just a week after writing that he expected to be arrested within days
It makes for a remarkable turnaround. Last Saturday he posted a message that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday and called on supporters to protest.
But the day came and went. And a grand jury hearing evidence in New York was not in session on Wednesday or Thursday, sparking speculation in the Trump world that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s case would fail.
Trump spent the days following his usual routine of going to his West Palm Beach golf course and maintaining an image of business as usual.
Flying home Saturday night after speaking to a crowd of 25,000 supporters in Waco, Texas, he scoffed at any idea that the probe had been a distraction.
“I’m not frustrated by anything,” he replied to a question. “I just gave a speech for two hours. I’m not frustrated at first doing this.
“I just had polls where I was 40 points ahead. See, that’s what I hate about fake news.”
But he faces growing legal danger from a series of criminal investigations. The most immediate relates to an alleged hush money payment to Daniels during his 2016 White House campaign.
He was recently invited to testify before a Manhattan grand jury, a sure sign they could be completing their work and about to face indictment.
“The Biden regime’s arming of law enforcement against their political opponents is something that’s straight out of the Stalinist Russia horror show,” he said at Saturday’s Waco rally
Trump has always denied any relationship with adult film star Stormy Daniels
A hush money payment to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is the focus of an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg
Trump described the case as politically motivated and used it to raise money. Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo — a self-confessed Democrat — said Saturday he thought the case against Trump was political.
On Saturday, Trump said he was convinced attorney Robert Costello’s testimony cast doubt on the evidence of his former fixer Michael Cohen, who said he made the payment and then got it refunded by Trump.
And he said the surfacing in 2018 of a letter from Cohen’s attorney saying Cohen had not received a refund destroyed the case against him.
“Two of the most respected lawyers in the country, one wrote a letter about Cohen that led him to be a liar,” Trump said.
“The other did more, so he went before the grand jury and declared that this guy was a liar.”
Trump has maintained a steady stream of attacks on Bragg. He was accused of going too far on Friday when she shared a picture of herself with a baseball bat next to a picture of the Manhattan DA.
He also warned of “death” and “destruction.”
But he told reporters traveling with him that violence is not the answer.
“I don’t like violence and I’m not for violence,” he said. “But a lot of people are upset and you know, they rigged an election, they stole an election, they spied on my campaign. You have done many bad things. You have created a fake dossier.’
He referenced the case during his 90-minute speech in Waco, along with other probes and investigations he has faced since winning the 2016 election.
Organizers said around 25,000 people turned out to see Donald Trump in Waco, Texas
Trump gives five traveling members of the press a half-way as he arrives to board his private jet at West Palm Beach International Airport for the flight to Waco, Texas
“The Biden regime’s arming of law enforcement against their political opponents is something straight out of the Stalinist Russia horror show,” he said.
“From the start it was one witch hunt and one false investigation after another.”
His choice of location and timing sparked controversy even before his plane landed in Texas.
The rally comes amid the 30th anniversary of the Waco Siege, a 51-day standoff that ended with a raid by federal agents on the local Branch Davidian religious sect, killing 86 people.
Since then, the area has become a magnet for far-right groups.
The left-leaning Houston Chronicle said the decision to host the event during the anniversary in Waco was much more than a dog whistle at far-right and conspiratorial Trump supporters.
“The more apt metaphor is the blaring air horn of a Mack 18-wheeler hurtling down I-10,” the newspaper said in an editorial.
The former president brought “Trump Force One” from Palm Beach to Waco, Texas on Saturday
Trump shared this article showing these images side by side: one of the ex-president holding a baseball bat and one of the terrified-looking Manhattan District Attorney
Supporters gathered in Waco Friday ahead of Trump’s arrival for a tailgate party
Photographers staked Trump’s 757 private jet at West Palm Beach International Airport for signs the former president is about to board the flight to New York. Instead, he was prepped for the trip to Waco, Texas on Saturday
Trump’s supporters have been out this week on the road that leads from West Palm Beach to Palm Beach and the former President’s Florida home
The newspaper added that Waco has become “a sanctuary for the Proud Boys, the Three Percenters, the Oath Keepers and other anti-government extremists and conspirators.”
The Trump campaign said the site was chosen because of its location between the major population centers of Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin and the infrastructure at the site.
But the siege metaphor is unlikely to escape supporters of Trump, who expects to be indicted by a New York grand jury and faces three other major investigations.
Trump stoked excitement last weekend when he released a message saying he expected to be arrested on Tuesday.
But the week came and went, and the former president stuck to his regular routine of playing golf on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.