During a lengthy and rambling speech at a campaign rally in Coralville, Iowa on Wednesday, former President Donald Trump turned the topic of the criminal indictments against himself, proclaiming that the charges were politically motivated and a "badge of honor."
"They could have done this three years ago," Trump said, and it would have been over and done, also referencing the civil fraud suit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
He also claimed that there wouldn't be any criminal case if he wasn't running for president, or if he weren't leading in the polls.
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"I'm being indicted for you ... they're trying to silence me because I won't let them silence you," Trump said.
Trump also complained about special counsel Jack Smith trying to expedite a review of his "presidential immunity" argument and take it directly to the Supreme Court, to prevent him from using it to drag out the trial to after the election.
"They're trying to rush it rush it rush it to the Supreme Court," according to the ex-president.
"They're trying to get a guilty plea from the Supreme Court, of the United States," Trump said, appearing to admit a conviction was possible. "They want to get that."
