Exclusive interview: Trump talks federal indictment, court hearing and the 2024 election

BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Former President Donald Trump does not plan to show up in a Washington courtroom on Friday for the faceoff between his lawyers and federal prosecutors on possible new rules limiting what he can and cannot say about federal charges that he tried to interfere with the 2020 election.

“No, I’m not going,” Trump told NorthJersey.com in an exclusive interview on Wednesday at his golf club, where he is hosting the latest leg of the LIV Golf Tournament.

Pausing briefly on the plaza outside the clubhouse at the Trump National Golf Club, where he played golf on Wednesday morning, Trump continued to claim that he has been unfairly accused by federal authorities of participating in an alleged plan to stop the certification of President Joe Biden’s election.

But Trump also used the moment to claim again that his First Amendment rights were at risk of being curtailed if U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan agrees to a request by prosecutors for a protective order to limit the former president’s comments about the case.

“The whole thing is compromised,” said Trump, wearing his trademark red baseball cap emblazoned with his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” and a white golf shirt inscribed with the presidential seal over his left breast and “President Donald Trump” on the right.

“It’s a very horrible thing that is taking place in our government,” Trump said. “They’re stopping free speech.”

Trump also claimed — falsely — that “all the evidence” gathered by the House Select Committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol had been “destroyed.”

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"That is a disgraceful and very illegal thing to do," Trump said, again ignoring the fact — or perhaps unaware — that his accusation is based on inaccurate information.

Trump’s latest assertion, while incorrect, stems in part from recent reports on several conservative media sites that the House Select Committee did not preserve all of its files.

The committee’s chair, Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, previously explained that the committee did not keep files that were not linked to the attacks but nonetheless preserved the bulk of information it gathered for future investigations, including by the special federal counsel. Such an admission has given rise to numerous conspiracy theories that the committee was hiding evidence that might portray Trump and the mob of his supporters who attacked the Capitol less harshly.

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Some of the committee's investigative reports and transcripts of interviews are being used by federal prosecutors who are continuing to investigate whether the former president — and his allies — violated the law in challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election. Bringing up the possibility — however inaccurate — that some files had been discarded may be a sign of a new tactic by the former president in raising questions about the investigation.

Thompson’s office did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday about Trump’s latest accusation. And Trump did not say whether he now plans to target the committee. But he added: "Nobody thought that would even be possible that somebody would act so illegally as that."

For his morning round of golf at his club, set amid the rolling hills of New Jersey’s so-called “horse country,” Trump took the wheel of a two-seat electronic cart with the presidential seal hanging from the roof. He was accompanied by several Secret Service agents.

He later drove the cart to the practice range at the club, where he spoke with several professional golfers, including former U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, and hit a few golf balls.

Since his indictment by a federal grand jury on Aug. 1 alleging that he conspired to overturn the 2020 presidential election, obstructed Congress’ confirmation of the vote and interfered with voters’ rights, Trump has described special federal counsel Jack Smith as “deranged” and said the indictment is part of a “witch hunt.”

But what seems to have drawn the most concern from Smith’s prosecution team — and prompted the hearing on short notice this Friday in Washington — is Trump’s seemingly threatening post on social media last Friday:  “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COMING AFTER YOU!.”

In a court filing with Chutkan late last Friday, Smith cited Trump’s message as a potential threat to witnesses and others linked to the case.

“If the defendant were to begin issuing public posts using details — or, for example, grand jury transcripts — obtained in discovery here, it could have a harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case,” Smith wrote in his court filing.

Smith asked Chutkan to block Trump from discussing evidence in the case with anyone outside his legal circle. But Smith stopped short of proposing that the judge issue a more stringent “gag order” that would prohibit Trump from making any public comments on the case.

Chutkan ordered Smith and Trump’s lawyers to her courtroom on Friday morning to discuss the possible protective order.

Trump could attend the hearing. As a defendant, he has the right to be there. But he plans to stay in New Jersey for the latest leg of the LIV Golf tour, which has drawn criticism because it is sponsored by an investment fund controlled by the Saudi Arabian government.

Last year, relatives of victims of the 9/11 attacks protested on the lawn of the Bedminster library, about 3 miles from Trump’s course, claiming that the Saudis were “sport washing” their own purported links to America’s deadliest terror attack and other alleged human rights violations.

Trump was also singled out by 9/11 victims for welcoming the Saudis without raising questions in the wake of the release of thousands of pages of previously classified FBI investigative reports that linked several Saudi officials to the 9/11 attacks.

This year, however, the mood at Trump’s golf club is far less tense. The coalition of 9/11 victims who have joined forces in a federal lawsuit against the Saudi government said they have no plans to stage protests. Two leaders of the group say they plan to travel to Iowa to speak to Republican presidential candidates campaigning there.

Another factor in lessening tension here is that LIV Golf recently announced a planned merger with the more established PGA Tour.

The PGA Tour last year raised numerous questions about the alleged Saudi connection to 9/11, the kingdom’s long record of crackdowns on the rights of women and gays, and a CIA report linking Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

In an unusual move, the PGA Tour even banned players who jumped from the PGA to LIV for hefty appearance fees.

This year the PGA is quiet, amid reports that the Saudis have agreed to invest $1 billion in PGA Tour events.

Trump did not comment on LIV, the Saudis or the proposed PGA Tour merger. He limited his comments to his presidential campaign and his growing legal problems.

“So we’re doing extremely well,” Trump said. “My poll numbers are through the roof, the highest they’ve ever been. We’re beating people by 50 and 60 points and we have to save this country because this country is going to hell.”

Trump also left open the possibility that he would attend the first debate of Republican presidential candidates later this month.

For weeks, Trump has said he may not show up at the debate on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee. But in recent days, he has asked his followers on social media whether he should go.

On Wednesday, Trump declined to commit one way or the other.

“I’ll let you know,” he said. “I could make you very famous by giving you that.”

Mike Kelly is an award-winning columnist for NorthJersey.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, as well as the author of three critically acclaimed non-fiction books and a podcast and documentary film producer. To get unlimited access to his insightful thoughts on how we live life in the Northeast, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: kellym@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Donald Trump interview: Indictment and 2024 election with Mike Kelly