Former President Donald Trump recently revealed he had been indicted on seven counts concerning his handling of allegedly classified documents.
Trump’s attorney, Jim Trusty, called the charges, which reportedly include false statements, conspiracy to obstruct, and an Espionage Act charge, “ludicrous.”
Trusty confirmed to CNN that the Department of Justice (DOJ) sent a summons letter to Trump’s legal team through email listing the counts and scheduling a Miami federal court appearance for June 13, 2023.
Republicans, legal experts, and other observers claim this development is an attempt by the Biden administration to prevent President Joe Biden’s top political challenger from becoming president again.
Recent Harvard-Harris and Marquette polls indicate Trump has a 5-7 point lead over Biden.
Republicans united in response to the Trump indictment, calling the development a “dark day for America.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) suggested the indictment was the “culmination of what Merrick Garland has been pushing for since he became Attorney General. The weaponization of our Department of Justice against enemies of the Biden admin. will do enormous damage to the rule of law & have a lasting impact.”
Indicting Donald Trump is the culmination of what Merrick Garland has been pushing for since he became Attorney General.
The weaponization of our Department of Justice against enemies of the Biden admin. will do enormous damage to the rule of law & have a lasting impact. https://t.co/CxJGyc63yj
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 9, 2023
Cruz recently told Fox Business that Attorney General Merrick Garland “has corrupted the machinery of government. He’s the most partisan Attorney General in our nation’s history.”
This Department of Justice is the most political we've ever seen.
Merrick Garland has corrupted the machinery of government.
He's the most partisan Attorney General in our nation's history. pic.twitter.com/fg004rL3dl
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 8, 2023
Although in competition against Trump for the 2020 Republican presidential nomination, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) condemned the indictment, stating, “The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society. We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation.”
“Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter?” DeSantis added. “The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ and end weaponization once and for all.”
The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society.
We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation.
Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter?
The DeSantis…
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) June 9, 2023
On Twitter, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) said, “The former President will be indicted for ‘mishandling’ his own government’s classified info. Yet everyone agrees the president has the authority to declassify anything. This is a moral and constitutional joke. Merrick Garland has disgraced this county.”
The former president will be indicted for “mishandling” his own government’s classified info. Yet everyone agrees the president has the authority to declassify anything. This is a moral and constitutional joke. Merrick Garland has disgraced this country.
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) June 9, 2023
Vance continued, saying Biden is “attacking his most likely 2024 opponent.” The Ohio senator accused the president of using the justice system to “steal the 2024 election.”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said Trump’s indictment marked a “dark day for the United States of America.”
McCarthy said it is “unconscionable” Biden to indict the leading candidate running against him in 2024. He cited how Biden has kept classified documents for decades, dating back to the president’s time in the Senate, and has faced no repercussions.
Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America.
It is unconscionable for a President to indict the leading candidate opposing him. Joe Biden kept classified documents for decades.
I, and every American who believes in the rule of law, stand with President Trump…
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) June 9, 2023
“I, and every American who believes in the rule of law, stand with President Trump against this brave injustice,” McCarthy said. “House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable.”
