Trump ‘scared s–tless’ over federal charges, ex-chief of staff John Kelly says
One of former President Donald Trump’s top White House advisers said the ex-commander in chief is more terrified by the 37 felony counts related to his alleged mishandling and concealment of White House documents that he pleaded not guilty to on Tuesday than he’s letting on.
“He’s scared s–tless,” former White House chief of staff John Kelly told the Washington Post.
After his arraignment in a Miami federal court Tuesday, on charges that include willful retention of national defense information and conspiracy to obstruct justice, the 77-year-old former president made an unscheduled stop at a South Florida Cuban restaurant to greet supporters before flying to New Jersey, where he gave a rousing, 30-minute address at his Bedminster golf club.
Kelly explained that the public appearances and glad-handing are Trump’s way of coping with the dire legal circumstances he’s found himself in.
Trump faces a maximum of 400 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts and given the maximum sentence for each count, which is unlikely.
“This is the way he compensates for that. He gives people the appearance he doesn’t care by doing this,” said Kelly.
“For the first time in his life, it looks like he’s being held accountable. Up until this point in his life, it’s like, ‘I’m not going to pay you; take me to court.’ He’s never been held accountable before,” the former Trump aide argued.
Kelly, a former Marine Corps general who first joined Trump’s administration as homeland security secretary, replaced Reince Priebus as White House chief of staff in July 2017 and served in that role until January 2019.
Since leaving the administration, Kelly has reportedly described Trump as “the most flawed person” he’s ever known and has said, “The depths of his dishonesty is just astounding to me. The dishonesty, the transactional nature of every relationship, though it’s more pathetic than anything else.”
Trump has vehemently denied any wrongdoing related to special counsel Jack Smith’s classified documents investigation.
