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Trump speaks for first time after indictment
Just 48 hours after becoming the first former president to face federal charges, Donald Trump made a stop in Columbus, Georgia. It was his first time making public remarks since the 37-count indictment was handed down.
COLUMBUS, Ga. - In former Pres. Trump’s first public remarks since his 37-count felony federal indictment at the Georgia GOP Convention on Saturday afternoon, he called the lead prosecutor on the case Jack Smith "deranged."
"We have a thug who’s in charge. This is a political hit job," Trump said. "We didn’t do any obstruction."
The former president claimed the charges amounted to election interference and that his political opponents including President Biden and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were also guilty of the same crimes.
He also slammed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ special grand jury probe of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.
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"In Atlanta, people are afraid to walk to their local grocery store for a loaf of bread for fear of being assaulted or murdered," he said. "Yet, your local district attorney, Fani Willis is spending all of her energy, all of her money, all of her time trying to get Trump."
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (FOX 5)
Willis said she will make her decision on whether to charge the former president in an alleged scheme to enlist fake electors by the end of August.
Many of those implicated in the investigation were also in the room, including state party chair David Shafer.
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TRUMP FULL GOP SPEECH:
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Former Pres. Donald Trump Full GOP Convention speech
Former President Donald Trump was one of the scheduled speakers at this year's Republican Convention. This was his first public appearance since being indicted earlier this week. He was scheduled to speak at 2:30 p.m. and wrapped up around 4:20 p.m. The 2023 Georgia GOP Convention was planned for Columbus, Georgia.
He said because of crime, Atlanta has become unrecognizable.
"There’s 71% increase in homicides in Atlanta," he said. "And now it ranks among the highest murder rates anywhere in the nation."
According to data from Atlanta police, that’s false.
The latest crime report shows homicides down 32% compared to this time last year.
The latest crime data report released by Atlanta police shows homicides down 32 percent compared to this time last year. (Credit: Atlanta Police Department)
Noticeably absent from Saturday’s convention, the state’s top Republican, Gov. Brian Kemp.
"[I’ve been asked] I was the only statewide elected official at the convention today," said. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. "I told them, I think they like me."
Kemp has publicly criticized Trump and his efforts to overturn the election.
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Bill Warren, a Republican voter from Cherokee County, said while he likes Kemp, many in the room do not.
"Possibly he wouldn’t have been as welcome here then Burt Jones was," Warren said.
When Trump brought up Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and the "perfect" phone call in which he instructed Raffensperger to find 11,780 votes, the crowd let out a thunderous ‘boo.’
At one point, Trump invited Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene up on stage during his speech to say a few words Saturday afternoon.
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene joins Trump
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene joins Trump on stage at the 2023 GOP Convention in Columbus, Georgia. She expressed her support for the former president.
The former president is due in a Miami federal courtroom on Tuesday.