Donald Trump indicted: Republicans erupt over ‘dark moment in American history’
Ryan King
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News that a grand jury voted to indict President Donald Trump drew impassioned reactions, illustrating the bitter divide in the country.
Rumors of a looming indictment against Trump swirled for weeks, but numerous reports and Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina confirmed Thursday that the panel moved forward to indict him for charges believed to stem around an alleged $130,000 hush money payment made during the 2016 cycle.
DONALD TRUMP INDICTED: FORMER PRESIDENT REPORTEDLY CHARGED IN MANHATTAN HUSH MONEY CASE
Before this development, no president had been indicted, though former President Ulysses S. Grant was arrested in 1872 for speeding. Trump is currently the GOP front-runner.
“This is third world prosecutorial misconduct. It is the opportunistic targeting of a political opponent in a campaign year,” Trump’s son Eric bemoaned.
https://twitter.com/EricTrump/status/1641560639385780225
Republicans and conservative commentators largely echoed that sentiment.
“The Democrat Party’s hatred for Donald Trump knows no bounds. The “substance” of this political persecution is utter garbage. This is completely unprecedented and is a catastrophic escalation in the weaponization of the justice system,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) tweeted.
https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1641561317076082691?s=20
“Our side chants ‘lock her up’ and their side is going to get a mug shot based on a witch hunt. It’s time to change that. Gloves are off,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) warned.
https://twitter.com/mtgreenee/status/1641569162274422786?s=20
One of Trump’s 2024 GOP foes, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy quickly sounded the alarms about how an indictment of Trump could erode public confidence in the justice system.
“The politically motivated indictment of the 45th President of the United States marks a dark moment in American history. It will undermine public trust in our electoral system & justice system. It is un-American for the ruling party to use police power to arrest its political rivals. Principles go beyond partisanship. Let the American people decide who governs,” Ramaswamy tweeted.
https://twitter.com/VivekGRamaswamy/status/1641559434307547142?s=20
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), Trump’s top potential 2024 GOP foe, vowed that he would not support any extradition requests.
“The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head,” DeSantis tweeted. “Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda.”
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1641575007552778243
House Republicans have impaneled a subcommittee to investigate the alleged “weaponization” of the Justice Department. Some GOP lawmakers tied the developments with the Manhattan inquiry to their broader concerns with politicization in law enforcement.
“I am deeply disturbed by the reports of the indictment. Weaponizing the justice system to target a political rival is a clear danger to our country and democracy. DA Alvin Bragg should focus on prosecuting crime in NYC, not executing political witch hunts,” Rep. George Santos (R-NY) tweeted.
https://twitter.com/RepSantosNY03/status/1641559132342829059?s=20
“This isn’t just the radical left weaponizing the government to target their political enemies, this is them weaponizing the government to interfere in the 2024 election to stop Trump. The only solution is to shove it down their throats and put him back in the White House!!! #MAGA,” Donald Trump Jr. argued.
https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1641569065956253696
Meanwhile, Democrats largely coalesced around the grand jury’s decision, with some barely masking their glee and others sticking a somber tone.
“The indictment of a former president is unprecedented. But so too is the unlawful conduct in which Trump has been engaged. A nation of laws must hold the rich and powerful accountable, even when they hold high office. Especially when they do. To do otherwise is not democracy,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) tweeted.
https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1641559612494168067?s=20
“No one in this country is above the law — including former President Trump. Being indicted for falsifying business records with hush money is only the beginning of being held accountable for his crimes,” Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) chimed in.
https://twitter.com/RepBowman/status/1641556922984722433?s=20
“Grand Jury votes to indict Trump!” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) simply tweeted.
https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1641556668642205697?s=20
Trump’s former fixer and lawyer Michael Cohen, a star witness before the Manhattan grand jury, underscored that Trump should be presumed innocent. Cohen had a falling out with Trump starting in 2018.
“For the first time in our Country’s history, a president (current or former) of the United States has been indicted. I take no pride in issuing this statement and wish to also remind everyone of the presumption of innocence; as provided by the due process clause. However, I do take solace in validating the adage that no one is above the law,” Cohen said in a statement.
Cohen admitted to wiring $130,000 via a shell company to porn star Stormy Daniels, also known as Stephanie Gregory Clifford, during the 2016 election tail-end. The payment was made in exchange for her signing a nondisclosure agreement to stay mum about an alleged affair with Trump nearly a decade prior, according to court documents.
Ahead of the speculated indictment, numerous reports indicated that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office was mulling the prospect of pairing a misdemeanor charge of falsifying records of a reimbursement scheme to Cohen with a campaign finance violation to achieve a felony charge. It is not immediately clear what charges the special grand jury reportedly approved.
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Trump has vehemently denied wrongdoing and repeatedly blasted the inquiry, which began in 2018 as a “witch hunt.” His campaign received a considerable financial boost last week when rumors of a forthcoming reached a fever pitch.
In response to the news, Trump lashed out at what he described as the “thugs” and monsters” behind the indictment and predicted it would backfire.