Trump vows to run if convicted, claims tapes charges are perplexing: ‘We already surrendered them’

Former President Donald Trump Vows to Continue ⁤Presidential Campaign Despite Criminal Charges

Former President Donald Trump made a bold declaration on Friday, asserting his⁢ determination​ to run‍ for⁢ president even if he faces conviction in a criminal case related to his handling of classified documents at his luxurious Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. In a​ recent interview, Trump expressed confusion regarding​ the new charges ⁢brought against ⁤him.

Additional ​Obstruction of Justice Charges

The⁣ former president was ​hit with two additional‍ obstruction of ⁤justice charges⁣ on Thursday ⁣night. These charges⁤ revolve around allegations that Trump aide Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago⁢ maintenance worker Carlos De Oliveira attempted ‍to‌ tamper with security footage sought ‍by⁤ investigators.

During a conversation with conservative‌ radio host John⁤ Fredericks, Trump defended himself, stating, “These were my tapes that we gave to​ them. These were security tapes. We ​handed them over to‌ them… I’m ⁤not even sure ​what they’re saying.”

Allegations of Tampering with Evidence

The Department⁤ of ‌Justice claims that Trump and Nauta ⁣instructed De‍ Oliveira to ​delete the Mar-a-Lago footage to prevent it⁢ from falling into the hands of a grand ​jury.

New‍ court documents reveal that⁣ De Oliveira and Nauta ⁤were captured on surveillance video moving boxes that potentially contained classified documents before DOJ and‌ FBI officials arrived ⁣to collect subpoenaed items from the ⁤resort.

The indictment further‍ alleges that in June ​2022, De Oliveira engaged in a private ⁣conversation with an employee⁤ in an audio closet. During this⁢ conversation, De Oliveira inquired about the duration for which a server ⁢storing the video footage retained its data. The employee responded that ​the‍ footage remained ‍on the server ⁤for 45 days. In response, De Oliveira stated ⁣that ‌”the boss” wanted the server⁤ deleted. Shockingly, the indictment also claims that Trump offered to‌ provide legal representation for De Oliveira⁣ in August of last year.

Additionally, Trump now faces ⁢a new charge‌ of willful retention of national defense information,‌ bringing the total number​ of charges in the classified documents scandal to‌ 40. ​Despite the mounting legal troubles, the former​ president maintains⁣ his innocence and pleaded “not guilty” during⁣ his⁣ arraignment in June. ​His trial is scheduled to ‍commence in May 2024.

Click here ‍to⁣ read​ more‌ from ‍The Washington ‍Examiner.