Trump Declares, ‘I Would Testify’ in Manhattan Criminal Case

Former President Donald Trump said he “would testify” in his upcoming criminal trial in Manhattan.

Whether he actually does remains to be seen.

On Friday, Trump held a press conference about “election integrity” with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who traveled to Mar-a-Lago to kiss the ring as he fends off a challenge to his leadership in the House. After their meeting, Trump spoke briefly before turning the dais over to Johnson, who hyped claims of election fraud. After Johnson spoke, the former president took center stage and fielded some questions from reporters.

One asked if he will testify in his trial in New York, where he faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to cover up extramarital affairs. Trump has pleaded not guilty.

“Do you plan to testify in your trial in New York?” a reporter off camera asked.

“Yeah, I would testify, absolutely,” Trump replied. “It’s a scam. It’s a scam. That’s not a trial. That’s not a trial. That’s a scam.”

Trump cited two Fox News legal analysts to back up his claim that the charges are “a scam.”

“It’s election interference and it’s got to stop,” he continued. “It’s a third-world country. This country’s never done it.”

The former president re-upped his attacks on Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the case.

“It’s very unfair that we have this judge who hates Trump and has tremendous conflict as you know, tremendous conflict,” he said. “Nobody can believe that this judge isn’t recusing himself. The conflict is at a level that nobody’s ever seen before.

Jury selection in Trump’s New York trial begins on Monday.

Watch above via CNN.