Melania is MIA as furious Donald goes on the attack amid indictment

Melania Trump was glaringly absent from her husband’s side on Tuesday as he delivered a defiant speech at Mar-a-Lago, condemning the New York prosecutor and judge who presided over his arraignment. The former president was supported by three of his five children – Don Jr, Eric and Tiffany. Teenage Barron is rarely seen, and Ivanka Trump – who previously played a pivotal role in her father’s political career – announced before Christmas she was playing no part in his new chapter. But Melania Trump’s absence was keenly felt, especially given that she was seen at Mar-a-Lago as recently as Thursday. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

Some speculated that her absence was due to the nature of the indictment, and the fact is was connected to allegations he cheated on her with Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. Before the indictment was announced last week, a source told PEOPLE that Melania, 52, ‘is leading her own life’ and ‘still feels happy’ at Mar-a-Lago, but ‘remains angry and doesn’t want to hear’ about the alleged $130,000 in hush money to Daniels. An insider told the magazine: ‘They weren’t expecting [the indictment], but Melania will support him. That’s what she does. They are a family.’ Another said her focus is on 17-year-old Barron. ‘She is aware of who her husband is and keeps her life upbeat with her own family and a few close friends,’ one of the insiders added. Pictured: The last time Donald Trump was seen in public with his wife Melania, on March 30. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

Donald Trump used his speech to tear into the judge and district attorney in New York who oversaw his arraignment on Tuesday, going after Judge Juan Merchan’s family and calling Alvin Bragg a ‘criminal.’ In a burst of fury during his 25-minute remarks to a packed crowd of family and supporters at Mar-a-Lago, Trump let his frustration with the case shine through. He slammed his legal opposition, despite a warning from Merchan to use his words carefully in order to avoid a gag order. Pictured: Ivanka Trump was spotted getting out of her black van at an office building in Miami on Monday, but did not attend her father’s speech at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

The former president described his foes as a ‘Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife and a family whose daughter worked for Kamala Harris ,’ which drew groans from the crowd. Trump also said the real criminal in the case is Bragg, accusing him of leaking grand jury information. ‘The criminal is the district attorney because he illegally leaked massive amounts of Grand Jury information for which he should be prosecuted, or at a minimum he should resign,’ he said, to cheers. There were some leaks about how many charges Trump would face and related to what matters – but the indictment remained sealed until the former president was officially charged on Tuesday. Trump was told he was free to speak – but with some caution about what he could say. Pictured: Crowds of cheering people watch Trump’s speech after his arraignment. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

Merchan did not slap a gag order on Trump – as the former president’s lawyers feared may happen – but the judge warned during the arraignment on Tuesday that he could hand down a gag order against the ex-president if he makes social media posts inciting violence. A gag order would prevent Trump and his legal team from discussing the case publicly, which would extend to the defendant’s favorite form of communicating with his base – social media. It’s unclear if Trump skirted that line in his remarks on Tuesday evening. He went after Judge Merchan’s daughter and Bragg’s wife in his attacks. Loren Merchan, the judge’s 34-year-old daughter (pictured with Merchan), is partner and president of Authentic Campaigns, a progressive digital firm, and worked on several high-profile Democratic campaigns – including for President Joe Biden. Loren worked as the director of digital for Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign from February 2019 until December of the same year, according to her LinkedIn. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

Merchan’s firm, Authentic, continued working for Harris and then-candidate Joe Biden after Harris ended her unsuccessful campaign for president and joined Biden’s ticket. She concluded her work with the campaign to move to fill the same role at Authentic Campaigns’ progressive digital strategies firm. She climbed the ladder over five years at the firm and is now partner, president and COO of Authentic Campaigns. Bragg’s wife Jamila Ponton Bragg had been active on Twitter until recently, posting derisive tweets about Trump. She locked her account after the former president targeted her. Pictured: Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos at Mar-a-Lago. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

In his remarks, Trump tore into the investigations against him, calling them an ‘insult to our country,’ and he lashed out at prosecutors investigating him and complained about the probes he faces. ‘I never thought anything like this could happen in America. The only crime that I’ve committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it,’ he said. His focus was not as much on the crimes he was indicted for on Tuesday but on every other investigation and alleged wrong-doing he has faced since he entered politics. Pictured: Trump arrives before delivering remarks at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

Trump, 76, went through a litany of crimes he claims have been committed against him, including both impeachments; his false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him; that the government spied on his 2016 presidential campaign; the FISA warrants against his advisers; and investigations into reports Russia tried to influence the election in his favor. He attacked Bragg (pictured), saying the Manhattan District Attorney wanted to get him at ‘any cost and this before he knew anything about me.’ Trump rambled between topics during his 25-minute speech, moving from his presidential campaign talking points, his accomplishments in the White House and what he says President Joe Biden did to harm America. He abruptly ended his remarks after 25 minutes – a short speech by his standards – after spending much of his time complaining about the investigations he still faces. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

He repeated his argument he is the victim of the weaponization of the legal system and under political attacks from Democrats who don’t want to see him return to the White House. ‘Now they have really stepped up their efforts by indicting the 45th President of the United States,’ he said, as the crowd booed in response. And he slammed the other investigations into his actions – including the state of Georgia’s examination of whether he and his supporters tried to illegally overturn the election results there. He also condemned a federal investigation into the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago. His focus on those two cases could be an indication of the legal fights he is most concerned about. Some experts see the New York case as the weakest of all those Trump faces. Pictured: A court sketch of Donald Trump on Tuesday. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

Trump launched a long, detailed defense on why he thinks he committed no crime by having his White House records at his Florida home. The Presidential Records Act says all material from a presidential administration is the property of the federal government and must be turned over to the National Archives. ‘There is no criminality under the Presidential Records Act,’ he said. ‘That is not what it’s all about. We were negotiating in very good faith, a proper way in order to return some or all of the documents that I openly, and in very plain sight, brought with me to Mar-a-Lago from our beautiful White House just as virtually every other president has done in the past.’ He condemned the August raid that revealed he had more documents on hand, despite a subpoena from the Justice Department to return all the material he had with him at his Florida home. Much of his ire was focused on President Biden. Pictured: A sketch of Justice Juan Merchan speaking during Tuesday’s arraignment. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

Trump is running for another term in the White House but first must win the Republican presidential primary before he can face off against Biden. Trump claimed other presidents from Joe Biden to Barack Obama to Jimmy Carter also took documents. Biden was revealed to have classified documents in his possession but no other former president has. He said the charges against him in that case ‘has absolutely nothing to do with openly taking boxes of documents and mostly clothing and other things to my home, which President Obama has done.’ Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

The former president claimed Biden has more classified documents on hand than he did, and committed a worse crime. Biden’s lawyers say they turned over the classified material as soon as it was discovered. Trump claimed – with no proof – Biden still has documents in his possession. ‘He has 1,850 boxes in Delaware, which he is refusing to give up,’ Trump said of Biden. There is no evidence of this and the Justice Department has searched both of Biden’s Delaware homes, saying no more documents are there. ‘As President I have the right to declassify documents and the process is automatic. If I take them with me, it’s automatic. Declassified,’ Trump claimed, which is false. Pictured: Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle at Mar-a-Lago to support the former president. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

He pointed out that Biden’s classified documents date back to when he was vice president. ‘He had absolutely no right to declassify as vice president. He doesn’t come under the non criminal Presidential Records Act. He comes under the very criminal Federal Records Act. ‘Unfortunately for him, but it’s not going to matter because they don’t follow the law, which has very severe penalties. He had classified documents that he took while he was a senator which is absolutely inexcusable,’ he said. Trump mentioned the members of his family – those who were there and those who weren’t – as he thanked them for their support. Those included Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle; Eric Trump and his wife Lara (pictured); and Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11939905/Defiant-Trump-speaks-family-supporters-Mar-Lago.html?ito=msngallery

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