NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday lowered expectations around his ability to be exonerated in his hush money trial, saying the charges were “rigged” against him to result in a conviction.

“Mother Teresa could not beat those charges. But we’ll see,” he told reporters in the courthouse hallway.

Mr. Trump spoke after the judge sent a jury of 12 Manhattan residents into the deliberating room.

They must decide whether Mr. Trump is guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors allege Mr. Trump used false business entries to criminally conceal a $130,000 hush payment to porn star Stormy Daniels near the 2016 election.

The defense says Mr. Trump followed normal business and election practices and logged expenses correctly.

The charges were brought by New York officials, though Mr. Trump insists President Biden ordered up the charges to help his campaign against the presumptive GOP nominee.

SEE ALSO: New York jury starts to deliberate on Trump’s fate

“We’re gonna win this election. Nov. 5 is going to be the most important day in the history of our country,” Mr. Trump said. “We’re going to take back our country when these fascists and these thugs that are destroying us with inflation, and with everything they do.”

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.