NEW YORK: After former US president Donald Trump announced Tuesday morning that he received a target letter from the Department of Justice (DOJ) on January 6 probe, he admitted that he was bothered by the jury investigations against him.
While lashing out at the DOJ on his first appearance on Fox News after receiving the letter, Trump said he was a target of the probe.
He said before a town hall in Iowa that he was bothered by the timing of the notification, reiterating that it is because of his standing in the GOP presidential primary race.
“It bothers me. It bothers me for everybody in this incredible, sold out audience, and it bothers you,” the 77-year-old said.
“I got the letter on Sunday night. Think of it. I don’t think they’ve ever sent a letter on Sunday night,” Trump continued.
“And they’re in a rush because they want to interfere. It’s interference with the election. It’s election interference. Never been done like this in the history of our country, and it’s a disgrace.”
Trump went on to say that the DOJ “has become a weapon for Democrats.”
In his interview, he also criticised special counsel Jack Smith calling him a “deranged prosecutor”.
Smith is currently investigating Trump in two cases. One case focuses on the former president’s retention of classified documents after leaving the White House.
The other case pertains to Trump’s attempts to overturn his loss in the 2020 election and block confirmation of Biden’s victory. The Republican presidential candidate is also facing an indictment by a grand jury in New York City for allegedly falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to an adult film star before the 2016 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. –Agencies
