Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith endorses Trump hours before arraignment
Cami Mondeaux
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Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) endorsed former President Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination just one day before the former president is set to appear at the Manhattan courthouse for his arraignment in a hush money case.
Hyde-Smith offered her support in a Facebook post late Monday night, making her the sixth sitting senator to back Trump’s reelection bid. In her statement, the Mississippi Republican denounced the criminal charges Trump faces in New York and warned that the “whole affair” would “backfire” on Democrats.
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“That charade is all about self-promotion by the prosecutor and has nothing to do with justice,” Hyde-Smith wrote.
She then went on to praise Trump’s policies from his time in the White House, specifically his stances on immigration, taxes, and the economy.
“I support a return to these policies and to President Trump’s effective leadership,” Hyde-Smith said. “Therefore, I am endorsing Donald J. Trump for another term in the White House and will be working to assist him in winning the Republican nomination for President in 2024.”
Trump has received public endorsements from five other senators, including Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), J.D. Vance (R-OH), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).
The endorsement comes as Trump is set to plead not guilty to a slew of criminal charges stemming from a hush money case that emerged during his first White House run in 2016. It’s not yet clear what charges Trump faces, as the indictment has remained sealed since being announced on Thursday.
It’s been reported that he faces at least 34 criminal charges, including falsifying business records. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
Reports of a looming indictment emerged after former Trump attorney Michael Cohen testified before the Manhattan grand jury multiple times earlier this month. Cohen was convicted in 2018 after pleading guilty to paying two women who accused Trump of sexual affairs to be silent, including adult film star Stormy Daniels.
As part of the scheme, Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 and was later reimbursed by the Trump Organization.
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Manhattan prosecutors later opened an investigation into whether Trump falsified business records to list the reimbursement as a legal expense. Such a crime is a misdemeanor in New York but could be increased to a felony if District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office argues the fraud was intended to conceal a second crime.
At the time of Cohen’s trial, federal prosecutors did not press charges against Trump due to guidance from the Justice Department that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime. However, prosecutors revived discussions about possible charges shortly before Trump left office in 2021.