“Weaponizing federal law enforcement.” “What we are seeing is a judicial system on the balance.”
Former President Donald Trumprival of 2024 Republican nomination In the hours that followed, he walked a fine line between supporting him and alienating his supporters. President Trump announced he was indicted on charges arising from a federal investigation into his treatment classified government documents after he left the White House.
in front of 37 indictments opened On Friday, candidates pursued the Justice Department faster than the former president.Trump is the first ex-president to be indicted by the Justice Department, but the charges came weeks later he was charged with 34 felonies Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
President Trump can still run despite being charged.As Special Counsel Jack Smith said: It was announced on Friday that American defendants “are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
Ron DeSantis
Florida Governor Ron DeSantisThe president, who is seen as one of Trump’s biggest challengers, did not directly comment on the allegations. Instead, DeSantis, who went on a fundraiser across Texas on Thursday, said: tweeted “The weaponization of federal law enforcement is a deadly threat to the free society.”
He argued that the DeSantis administration would “bring accountability to the Justice Department, remove political bias, and end weaponization once and for all.”
Tim Scott
Immediately after the news broke Senator Tim ScottSouth Carolina’s Trump also lashed out at what he called the Justice Department’s weaponization of the former president in a Fox News interview.
“One of the things that makes America a city on a hill is our faith in our justice system, and what we’re seeing today is a justice system on the balance,” Scott said. rice field. He went on to claim that he would “clean up all injustice and impurity within our system,” without elaborating on possible allegations against the former president.
Mike Pence
During a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Friday, former Vice President Mike PenceThe former president, who has criticized his former boss during the campaign since launching his White House candidacy on Wednesday, said it was a sad day for America. He called the indictment unprecedented, denounced the politicization of the Justice Department and vowed to “clean up” the department at its highest level if elected.
“I had hoped the Department of Justice would clear the way to resolve these issues with the former president without proceeding with indictments, but it is very exciting to see these indictments progress,” Pence said. I am concerned,” he said.
He said Trump is entitled to a presumption of innocence. Before the indictment was opened, Mr. Pence asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to go behind the scenes of the special counsel and to open the indictment, arguing that Americans have a right to know the basis. On Friday afternoon, he did not answer questions about the unsealed indictment. The former vice president was recently acquitted of wrongdoing over classified documents found in his home after he left office.
Nikki Haley
Nikki HaleyTrump’s former ambassador to the United Nations tweeted that indicting the former president “is not the way justice should be pursued in our country,” adding, “The American people are facing prosecutorial overreach, double standards and revenge politics.” I’m exhausted,” he said, adding that now was the time. To move beyond the drama and distractions, she wrote.
Vivek Ramaswamy
businessman in a statement Vivek Ramaswamy He accused the “double layer of justice,” said the indictment was “an insult to all of us,” and called the Justice Department’s failure to indict Trump and President Joe Biden hypocritical. rice field.
“It would have been much easier for me to win this election if Mr Trump had not run for office, but I stand for principle over politics. and promise to restore the rule of law to our country,” Ramaswamy said.
Chris Christie
Former Governor of New Jersey Chris ChristieThe former federal prosecutor took a more cautious approach on Thursday night, waiting to see what the facts would be when a potential indictment was announced.
“Like I said before, no one goes above the law no matter how much they want to. I’ll have more to say when the facts come out,” he said on Twitter.
On Tuesday, Mr. Christie was asked by voters in New Hampshire whether he would pardon the former president if elected. He said he could not imagine pardoning someone if he believed he had received a full and fair trial before a jury.Christie has been a vocal critic of Trump ever since. he entered the race earlier this week.
Asa Hutchinson
Former Governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson Hutchinson, the only 2024 Republican nominee to ask Trump to drop the presidential campaign, said the ongoing criminal case would be a big mess.
“With the news of Donald Trump being indicted for the second time, our country recognizes that it is in a position to undermine our democracy. Trump’s actions should not be defined.” “My country or the Republican Party. It’s a sad day for our country,” Hutchinson said.
Summarize this content to 100 words
“Weaponizing federal law enforcement.” “What we are seeing is a judicial system on the balance.”Former President Donald Trumprival of 2024 Republican nomination In the hours that followed, he walked a fine line between supporting him and alienating his supporters. President Trump announced he was indicted on charges arising from a federal investigation into his treatment classified government documents after he left the White House.in front of 37 indictments opened On Friday, candidates pursued the Justice Department faster than the former president.Trump is the first ex-president to be indicted by the Justice Department, but the charges came weeks later he was charged with 34 felonies Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
President Trump can still run despite being charged.As Special Counsel Jack Smith said: It was announced on Friday that American defendants “are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”Ron DeSantisFlorida Governor Ron DeSantisThe president, who is seen as one of Trump’s biggest challengers, did not directly comment on the allegations. Instead, DeSantis, who went on a fundraiser across Texas on Thursday, said: tweeted “The weaponization of federal law enforcement is a deadly threat to the free society.”
He argued that the DeSantis administration would “bring accountability to the Justice Department, remove political bias, and end weaponization once and for all.”Tim ScottImmediately after the news broke Senator Tim ScottSouth Carolina’s Trump also lashed out at what he called the Justice Department’s weaponization of the former president in a Fox News interview. “One of the things that makes America a city on a hill is our faith in our justice system, and what we’re seeing today is a justice system on the balance,” Scott said. rice field. He went on to claim that he would “clean up all injustice and impurity within our system,” without elaborating on possible allegations against the former president. Mike PenceDuring a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Friday, former Vice President Mike PenceThe former president, who has criticized his former boss during the campaign since launching his White House candidacy on Wednesday, said it was a sad day for America. He called the indictment unprecedented, denounced the politicization of the Justice Department and vowed to “clean up” the department at its highest level if elected.
“I had hoped the Department of Justice would clear the way to resolve these issues with the former president without proceeding with indictments, but it is very exciting to see these indictments progress,” Pence said. I am concerned,” he said.He said Trump is entitled to a presumption of innocence. Before the indictment was opened, Mr. Pence asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to go behind the scenes of the special counsel and to open the indictment, arguing that Americans have a right to know the basis. On Friday afternoon, he did not answer questions about the unsealed indictment. The former vice president was recently acquitted of wrongdoing over classified documents found in his home after he left office. Nikki Haley Nikki HaleyTrump’s former ambassador to the United Nations tweeted that indicting the former president “is not the way justice should be pursued in our country,” adding, “The American people are facing prosecutorial overreach, double standards and revenge politics.” I’m exhausted,” he said, adding that now was the time. To move beyond the drama and distractions, she wrote.Vivek Ramaswamybusinessman in a statement Vivek Ramaswamy He accused the “double layer of justice,” said the indictment was “an insult to all of us,” and called the Justice Department’s failure to indict Trump and President Joe Biden hypocritical. rice field. “It would have been much easier for me to win this election if Mr Trump had not run for office, but I stand for principle over politics. and promise to restore the rule of law to our country,” Ramaswamy said.Chris Christie Former Governor of New Jersey Chris ChristieThe former federal prosecutor took a more cautious approach on Thursday night, waiting to see what the facts would be when a potential indictment was announced. “Like I said before, no one goes above the law no matter how much they want to. I’ll have more to say when the facts come out,” he said on Twitter.
On Tuesday, Mr. Christie was asked by voters in New Hampshire whether he would pardon the former president if elected. He said he could not imagine pardoning someone if he believed he had received a full and fair trial before a jury.Christie has been a vocal critic of Trump ever since. he entered the race earlier this week. Asa HutchinsonFormer Governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson Hutchinson, the only 2024 Republican nominee to ask Trump to drop the presidential campaign, said the ongoing criminal case would be a big mess. “With the news of Donald Trump being indicted for the second time, our country recognizes that it is in a position to undermine our democracy. Trump’s actions should not be defined.” “My country or the Republican Party. It’s a sad day for our country,” Hutchinson said.
more
Sarah Ewall Weiss
A reporter for CBS News, responsible for economic policy.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/republican-responses-to-trump-indictment/ Republican Response to Donald Trump Indictment, 2024 Candidates Nearly Avoid Attacks So Far