Trump indictment: On Thursday, after hearing that the former president had been indicted by a grand jury in Manhattan, key House Republican leaders lined up to defend Trump, demonstrating the stronghold he still has over his party on Capitol Hill.
Trump indictment
After the Trump indictment, Republican leaders and Trump supporters on Capitol Hill rallied in support of the former president.
In a tweet criticizing Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy wrote, “The American people will not tolerate this injustice.” He predicted that “Alvin Bragg and his extraordinary misuse of power will be held accountable by the House of Representatives.”
Steve Scalise, the number two Republican in the House, branded the charge “outrageous” and “one of the clearest examples of extreme Democrats weaponizing government to harm their political opponents” in a tweet.
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik issued a statement calling the Trump indictment “a horrible day for America” and “a political witch hunt.”
The Trump indictment was filed under seal and will be publicized in the coming days, prompting a response from prominent Republicans in Congress. One source told CNN that the allegations are currently unknown to the general public.
According to a senior GOP source, Trump called key supporters on Capitol Hill Thursday night to shore up support in the aftermath of his indictment. These included members of House GOP leadership and politicians who participate on the committees trying to probe the Manhattan district’s attorney office.
According to the source, Trump called his associates to “check-in” and inform them that he intends to fight the allegations and has been criticizing the indictment and Bragg.
The Trump indictment was announced only hours after Congress left for its two-week Easter break. The Capitol building seemed eerily silent. Republicans were significantly more vocal on social media.
Minutes after the charge was made public, his staunchest supporters on Capitol Hill sprang to his defense.
“Outrageous,” tweeted Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
“SHOCK: Trump Faces Criminal Charges!” Representative Lauren Boebert, a Republican, called this “another political witch hunt attacking the people’s President” in a tweet.
As president, Donald Trump “never gave up for the People of America. He values the welfare of the American people more than vested interests. Because of this, “the powerful will never stop coming after him,” as Florida lawmaker Matt Gaetz put it on Twitter.
An extremist New York District Attorney has just indicted President Donald J. Trump. There has never been a criminal indictment against a sitting President of the United States. Rep. Andy Biggs tweeted, “If they were able to get him, they would be able to get anyone.” He was referring to the growth of Trump Derangement Syndrome in the American judicial system.
A few senators wasted no time in joining the chorus of those condemning the Manhattan district attorney.
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Sen. Thom Tillis said in a statement, “This indictment doesn’t pass the smell test.” The Justice Department has already investigated the situation and concluded that no charges can be brought against President Trump. The same District Attorney in Manhattan who is known for acquitting violent offenders has been relentless in his pursuit of a politically motivated prosecution of a former President.
In contrast to many of his Republican colleagues, one moderate senator refrained from instantly attacking Bragg or the indictment.
Rep. Don Bacon told, “I trust the system.” There is a judge here. We now have a jury. Appeals can be made. Thus, I believe that justice will be served in the end. The evidence of his guilt will be apparent. But if not, I believe that, too, will become apparent.
Jordan, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, and House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, all Republicans, wrote to ask for Bragg’s testimony and investigation-related information even before indictments were handed down. The office of Bragg resisted, but the Republican chairmen are firm in their stance.
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