One of Donald Trump’s lawyers, Alina Habba, has asserted to the BBC that Trump’s campaign for the White House will remain unaffected despite his conviction in a landmark trial in New York.
On Thursday, jurors found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments made to former porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
Trump is the first US president to be convicted of a crime, a verdict he claims is the result of a rigged trial and politically motivated prosecution. Habba described Trump as a “victim of political, selective prosecution”
The conviction followed a seven-week trial at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, during which Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 11 and has stated his intention to appeal the criminal convictions.
Despite the legal challenges, Habba, who was present with Trump throughout the trial, affirmed that even if imprisoned, Trump intends to continue his campaign for the US presidential election in November.
“We have seen some corruption in this country that frankly has never seen before in our judicial system,” Ms Habba told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
“It is very real, it is not posturing by any means, it is 100% a problem that this country is going to have to handle and get a grapple on in November.
“He is running for president, nothing will change there.
“The people that need him in this country, because frankly it’s more important than anything anybody else thinks.
“Our people are speaking loudly, they’re donating, they’re small donors, and they are standing up because they are afraid, because we cannot have this happen to us.”
In remarks at Trump Tower in New York on Friday, Mr Trump spoke for more than 30 minutes and angrily attacked his political opponents, the jury and the judge in his case.
He called Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over his trial, a “tyrant” and claimed that he “literally crucified” witnesses.
In response, President Joe Biden’s campaign described Mr Trump as unhinged and thirsting for revenge.
“That’s how the American system of justice works,” Mr Biden said, adding it was “reckless” and “irresponsible” for anyone to suggest the trial was rigged.
Mr Trump’s unprecedented conviction has entrenched bitter divisions in the US, in the run-up to November’s vote.
