Fact check: Breaking down some of the claims being made around Trump’s hush money trial

Former President Donald Trump has been making a series of claims during his ongoing hush money trial, many of which have been proven false.”Because they don’t want any supporters here. They don’t want MAGA here, they don’t want anybody. This thing is locked down,” Trump claimed outside the courthouse. However, there is no evidence of such crowds being kept away from the court.”We have a real problem with this judge. We have a real problem with a lot of things having to do with this trial,” Trump stated. He also blamed his legal troubles on the current administration, stating, “This is all coming from the Biden White House.”Contrary to Trump’s claim, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is handling the case, is a locally elected official and does not report to the federal government.Trump also accused the District Attorney of neglecting violent crime in New York, stating that Bragg “…has let violent crime in New York flourish at levels never seen before…” This claim is also false. Violent crime in Manhattan is not at its highest level, with 73 murders reported last year compared to over 500 in 1990. Trump has also made false claims about the judge not allowing him to attend his son’s graduation and about legal scholars calling the case against him “absurd.” He also stated that the gag order makes it impossible for him to defend himself, saying, “I’d love to say everything that’s on my mind, but I’m restricted because I have a gag order.”The gag order, in fact, only restricts Trump from publicly discussing witnesses, the jury, the District Attorney’s staff, or the judge’s family. Prosecutors have accused Trump of violating the gag order multiple times. A hearing on this matter is scheduled for next week.