More Republican lawmakers have begun to rally around former President Donald Trump following reports on Friday that an indictment was likely later this week over allegations of campaign finance violations in relation to “hush money” payments he made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.
Conservatives in the House reacted after Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) vowed on Saturday to direct “relevant committees” to look into whether any federal funds are being utilized for what he called “politically motivated prosecutions.”
“Here we go again — an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA who lets violent criminals walk as he pursues political vengeance against President Trump. I’m directing relevant committees to immediately investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions,” he tweeted on Saturday.
McCarthy reacted following reports that a Manhattan grand jury is on the verge of indicting the former president — which would be a first for the country — and amid talk that District Attorney Alvin Bragg has been in talks with law enforcement agencies, including the Secret Service ahead of an expected appearance in court by Trump.
Other Republicans have also responded since the news broke.
Although he has recently criticized former Trump’s actions on January 6th, former Vice President Mike Pence, who is considering a presidential run in 2024, stated that the possible indictment “smells like the type of politically motivated prosecution we experienced during the Russia hoax,” NBC News reported.
Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, the third-ranking Republican in the House and someone whose name has been mentioned as a potential 2024 running mate, called Trump’s possible arrest “unAmerican” and added that Democrats have reached “a dangerous new low.”
“Knowing they cannot beat President Trump at the ballot box, the Radical Left will now follow the lead of Socialist dictators and reportedly arrest President Trump,” she said in a statement shared on Twitter, describing him as the leading GOP candidate.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), speaking at the Vision ’24 National Conservative Forum on Saturday, dismissed the Manhattan district attorney’s case against Trump, asserting that he believes the prosecutors are “scared” of him.
“The prosecutor in New York has done more to help Donald Trump get elected president than any single person in America today,” Graham said.
He noted further: “If I were President Trump, I’d take this all the way to the damn Supreme Court.”
Added Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.): “If they can come for Trump, they will come for you. This type of stuff only occurs in third world authoritarian nations.”
“Virtually every campaign finance violation involves either 1) spending other people’s money illegally or 2) taking money into your campaign that you shouldn’t. Trump did neither,” tweeted Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida. “He used his own money to resolve a private dispute, irrespective of any campaign.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, another potential Trump running mate, called the allegations against Trump “fake” and “outdated.” She wrote on Twitter, “Republicans in Congress MUST subpoena these communists and END this!”
She also noted in another tweet that “we don’t need to protest,” adding: “These idiots are sealing their own fate in 2024 because the silent majority has two feelings right now about the current regime.”
Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who Trump backed during his 2022 victory, condemned Bragg, asserting that the DA is eager to prosecute Trump while violent offenders are free to roam the streets of New York City.
Trump, in a Truth Social post of his own in responding to the news of the potential indictment, called for protests.
“NOW ILLEGAL LEAKS FROM A CORRUPT & HIGHLY POLITICAL MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, WHICH HAS ALLOWED NEW RECORDS TO BE SET IN VIOLENT CRIME & WHOSE LEADER IS FUNDED BY GEORGE SOROS, INDICATE THAT, WITH NO CRIME BEING ABLE TO BE PROVEN, & BASED ON AN OLD & FULLY DEBUNKED (BY NUMEROUS OTHER PROSECUTORS!) FAIRYTALE, THE FAR & AWAY LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE & FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WILL BE ARRESTED ON TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. PROTEST, TAKE OUR NATION BACK!” he said.