Donald Trump called the $354 million civil fraud fine against him in New York a “form of Navalny” in a Fox News town hall on Tuesday.
“It is a form of Navalny. It is a form of communism or fascism,” Trump told Fox News host Laura Ingraham.
“The guy is a nut job,” Trump said of Judge Arthur Engoron who oversaw the trial. “I have known this for a long time and I’ve said it openly.”
Navalny, an anti-corruption crusader and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin died in an Arctic prison on Friday.
Trump broke his silence about Navalny’s death days later, but it was to compare the treatment of the Russian opposition leader to his own legal troubles.
In Tuesday’s town hall, Trump called Navalny a “brave guy,” adding “he went back, he could’ve stayed away. And, frankly, probably would’ve been a lot better off staying away and talking from outside of the country as opposed to going back in, because people thought that could happen, and it did happen. And It’s a horrible thing.”
“But it’s happening in our country too,” Trump continued. “We are turning into a communist country in many ways. And if you look at it. I’m the leading candidate, I get indicted—I never heard of being indicted before—I get indicted four times. I have eight or nine trials… all because of the fact that I’m in politics. They indicted me on things that are so ridiculous.”
Trump is facing 91 felony charges across four criminal indictments. He was indicted in New York City over an alleged hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. He was charged in Washington, D.C., for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump also faces election subversion charges in the state Georgia. He was also charged in Florida over his alleged mishandling of classified documents after he left office and obstruction of justice.
