Lawmakers in battleground districts reacted in various ways to the controversial Trump indictment: some criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, some voiced faith in the justice system, and others chose to remain silent.
Rollcall mentioned that Republicans from competitive districts in New York accused Bragg, like some of their other House GOP colleagues, of politicizing his approach to the position by pushing for an indictment of Trump rather than tackling other crimes in the city.
Trump is allegedly scheduled to be charged on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in paying hush money to a porn actress before his 2016 win. The Trump indictment is still under seal.
WACO, TEXAS – MARCH 25: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Waco Regional Airport on March 25, 2023 in Waco, Texas. Former U.S. president Donald Trump attended and spoke at his first rally since announcing his 2024 presidential campaign. Today in Waco also marks the 30 year anniversary of the weeks deadly standoff involving Branch Davidians and federal law enforcement. 82 Davidians were killed, and four agents left dead. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Trump Indictment: Democrats React Diversely
This week, the historic Trump indictment drew diverse reactions from House Democrats. Some applauded the action with pure energy and others proceeded far more carefully in light of Trump’s anticipated arraignment on Tuesday.
Even though the two sides agree that no one in America is above the law, The Hill said the tonal contrast emphasizes both how toxic Trump’s relationship with his congressional opponents is and the Democrats’ deeply ingrained concern that the indictment will only energize his conservative base and make him a more formidable force in the race for the White House next year.
Democrats who gleefully applauded Bragg’s choice are on one side of the Trump indictment. Most of the politicians in that group are liberals and people of color, including members of the far-left “squad,” who have long accused Trump of racism and are now ecstatic about an indictment they see as karma.
“Grand Jury votes to indict Trump!” tweeted Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of three Muslim lawmakers in Congress.
“It’s time that we ensure Trump is banned from running for any public office again,” echoed Rep. Jamaal Bowman.
According to Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), the Trump indictment is “one of many steps” toward removing Trump as a danger to free and fair elections.
Republicans Slam Indictment
Meanwhile, the New York Times mentioned that Republicans in Congress lamented the Trump indictment, calling it a sad day in American history. Conservative media outlets issued a call to action for the party’s base. One prominent Donald J. Trump fan proposed using the former president’s arrest photo as a 2024 campaign poster.
Even Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is largely considered to be Mr. Trump’s most likely competitor in the Republican primary, hurried to denounce the prosecutor who filed the Manhattan case that resulted in the former president’s historic indictment on Thursday. Without mentioning Mr. Trump by name, Mr. DeSantis said that Florida would not be involved in his extradition.
Even before the allegations were made public, the former president’s supporters and detractors from across the Republican Party vented their rage and leveled unfair accusations against him. Many believed Trump might benefit from a surge of sympathy from across the party, with a base of followers perhaps motivated by a conviction that the legal system has been used against him.
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