[Jimbuna]

Donald Trump vows to become 'modern day Nelson Mandela' if he ends up in prison over gag order

In his latest unhinged rant on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump likened himself to a "modern day Nelson Mandela" as he stated that being imprisoned for violating his gag order in the hush money case would be his "GREAT HONOUR".

Taking to his social media platform on Saturday, Trump shared a three-part mega-rant that mentioned or slammed not only Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan but also President Joe Biden, US District Judge Lewis Kaplan and Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron.

The gag order, which was issued ahead of the hush money trial — one of four criminal indictments the former president faces — seemed to be the main focus of the rant, with Trump slamming "Crooked Judge Juan Merchan" for issuing it as he said it's "taking away [his] First Amendment Rights", all because he said Merchan "doesn't want the FACTS behind the Gag to come out".

Trump stated in part three of his tirade: "Now, we have Merchan, who is not allowing me to talk, thereby violating the Law and the Constitution, all at once. It is so bad what he is trying to get away with - How was he even chosen for this case???"

He continued: "I heard he fought like hell to get it, and all of the rest of them also! If this Partisan Hack wants to put me in the 'clink' for speaking the open and obvious TRUTH, I will gladly become a Modern Day Nelson Mandela - It will be my GREAT HONOUR." Mandela became the first president of South Africa after a long prison stint incurred by his campaign against apartheid in the country.

In the hush money trial, Trump stands accused of paying off pornstar Stormy Daniels to silence her claims that she had sex with the businessman before he was elected to the presidency in 2016. It is argued that the claims were seen as detrimental to the real estate mogul's campaign — which he won, anyway — and so he and his team wanted her to stop making what they called false accusations.

Trump and his former lawyer turned arch-enemy Michael Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 (£103,000). Trump has consistently denied the accusations that he had sexual relations with her in Nevada in 2006, and he and his legal team have argued that the payment was in relation to legal fees.

Merchan issued the gag order against the former president amid his other unhinged rants against the people involved in his other cases, arguing that similar rants against those involved in the hush money trial could damage the integrity of the case. It applies to everyone involved in the suit, save for the judge himself and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought forth the case.

In the first part of the rant, which was posted just after 1pm EDT, Trump stated: "How many Corrupt, Biased, Crooked Joe Biden-'Protection Agency' New York Judges do I have to endure before somebody steps in?"

He went off on Kaplan, who was the judge overseeing the $83.3 million (£65.9million) defamation suit brought forth by writer and columnist E. Jean Carroll, who accused the former president of raping her in a high-end Manhattan department store in 1996, then defaming her when she came forward with the claims during his presidency.

"I had New York Federal Judge, Lewis Kaplan, with a woman who I never knew, and had nothing to do with, until she sued me for 'defamation.' She did not know what day, month, or year the supposed 'incident' took place - She knew nothing," Trump wrote, referencing E. Jean Carroll, whom he doesn't name.

He continued: "Kaplan, a Hillary friend, wouldn’t even let my lawyers put on a proper case, made it two cases instead of one, took away my American Right to defend myself, and was a Crazed Bully as his wife and friends sat in the Courthouse, every day in their little roped off section, and prodded him on in awe. This mysterious lady, who said rape is sexy, got $91 Million Dollars."

In the second part of his rant, he went after Engoron, who oversaw the civil fraud trial brought forth by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who accused the former reality TV star of grossly inflating his net worth and the worth of his properties across the state and in other cities in order to secure better business deals and loans.

Trump was ultimately ordered to pay $454 million (£359million) in fines for the violations, a total that was later reduced to around $174 million (£138million).

The businessman wrote: "Then, of course, we have Arthur Engoron, a total lunatic, whack job, who ruled that I should pay an almost $500 Million Dollar 'fine' for having done nothing wrong (No Victims, No Damages, Ironclad Disclaimer, ONLY SUCCESS!), in fact, he was the one who committed fraud when he purposely, at the direction of Racist, Corrupt A.G. Letitia James, undervalued Mar-a-Lago at $18 Million Dollars [£14million]."

Trump, who is now the presumptive Republican nominee for the presidency as he vies for re-election in November against Biden, a Democrat, concluded by writing: "We have to Save our Country from these Political Operatives masquerading as Prosecutors and Judges, and I am willing to sacrifice my Freedom for that worthy cause. We are a Failing Nation, but on November 5th, we will become a Great Nation again. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

This isn't the first time Trump has compared himself to a key historical figure seen by many as a saviour — he recently compared himself to Jesus as he slammed the civil fraud trial in another set of unhinged rants.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...194cfbaa&ei=24