Former US President Donald Trump has renewed his refusal to investigate the so-called "Stormy Daniels" case, affirming his innocence and denying the commission of a "felony" or "misdemeanour". Trump denounces a "witch hunt" by prosecutors he describes as "scum" who are pursuing him in cases in New York, Washington and Atlanta.
Former President of the United States Donald Trump has renewed his refusal to investigate the so-called "Stormy Daniels" case, affirming his innocence and denying the commission of a "felony" or "misdemeanour".
Trump is seeking to fortify his position in the face of possible charges that may be brought against him related to paying money to a porn star in exchange for buying her silence on a sexual relationship, days before the 2016 elections.
"The New York Attorney General, under the auspices and direction of the Department of Justice, is investigating me with something that is neither a felony nor a misdemeanor nor an affair," Trump said in front of thousands of his supporters during his first campaign rally Saturday in Waco.
He added, "I never liked Horse Face," which is the name Trump uses for Daniels.
Waco saw a deadly confrontation between an anti-government group and federal security in 1993.
This Texas city, which commemorates the 30th anniversary of the confrontation, has become a reference for far-right activists who sing of its resistance to what they see as government abuses.
Before the rally, Trump wrote on his "Truth Social" platform: "Big crowd in Texas, see you soon."
The political festival comes amid a wave of increasingly hostile statements by Trump, who denounces a "witch hunt" by prosecutors he describes as "scum" who are pursuing him in cases in New York, Washington and Atlanta.
Trump, 76, who faced impeachment proceedings for inciting a rebellion last week, called on his supporters to protest against Manhattan Attorney General Alvin Bragg, and the former president expected him to be "arrested" without providing evidence.
"violent chaos"
Some of those arriving in Waco came from other states, eager to see Trump return to the Oval Office. Many wore baseball caps emblazoned with the phrase "MAGA," an acronym for "Make America Great Again," or waved flags in support of his campaign.
"We have a huge force behind Donald Trump that we haven't unleashed yet," said Kelly Heath, 49, who came from Georgia. "You'd be stunned."
Trump supporters headed to the Waco Siege Monument, which commemorates the nearly 80 people who died in the standoff at a David Koresh compound that was surrounded by federal agents in 1993.
"Waco is really the center of the national movement, the movement to help America return to its roots (...) to empower citizens to have constitutional rights," said Associate Pastor Peter Christian at the memorial site.
The Houston Chronicle published an article Thursday accusing Trump of holding his festival on the 30th anniversary to be a "trumpet" for extremists among his supporters.
"It's a hoax to remind his group of the infamous Waco Siege of 1993, when an anti-government group fought the FBI," his niece, Mary Trump, tweeted.
It is believed that Trump is the favorite by a large margin to win the Republican nomination to run in the 2024 presidential elections.
Other potential contenders led by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis initially refrained from criticizing the former reality TV star, but have recently begun to criticize his personality and the ongoing scandals surrounding him.
Trump is facing a federal investigation against the background of his endeavors to overturn the result of the 2020 elections in which he lost, and incitement to riots that killed the Capitol, carried out by his supporters to prevent the transfer of power to Joe Biden.
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