Politicians react to indictment of former president Donald Trump
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Reactions to the indictment of former President Donald Trump are starting to come in.
A grand jury in Manhattan voted Thursday to indict the former president, according to NBC News. This is the first time that a former U.S. president has faced criminal charges.
The indictment is in connection to allegations of a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
According to NBC News, the $130,000 payment was made to Daniels during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. The adult actress claimed she slept with Trump in 2006, which the former president has denied.
Former President Trump posted the following on his social media platform Truth Social:
"These Thugs and Radical Left Monsters have just INDICATED the 45th President of the United States of America, and the leading Republican Candidate, by far, for the 2024 Nomination for President. THIS IS AN ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY THE LIKES OF WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. IT IS LIKEWISE A CONTINUING ATTACK ON OUR ONCE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. THE USA IS NOW A THIRD WORLD NATION, A NATION IN SERIOUS DECLINE. SO SAD!"
Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who Trump campaigned for, tweeted about the indictment Thursday evening.
Senator Vance's Office released the following statement shortly after:
“Today’s indictment of President Trump is political persecution masquerading as law," said Senator Vance. "Donald Trump is the former President of the United States, the leader of our nation’s political opposition, and the presumptive Republican nominee in 2024. Alvin Bragg’s decision to indict him is blatant election interference and a direct assault on the tens of millions of Americans who support him.
"To make matters worse, this entire charade is predicated on an unprecedented, doomed-to-fail legal theory and a baseless misdemeanor charge from seven years ago.
"While the radical left continues their obsession with harassing Donald Trump, the American people are suffering. Families are struggling to put food on the table, violent crime is running rampant in our cities, and thousands have been poisoned by the fentanyl pouring across our southern border.
"Instead of working to improve the lives of the Americans they are supposed to represent, the ruling party is focused on kneecapping their greatest threat in the next election.
"The American people will see this for exactly what it is: a grave miscarriage of justice."
Pennsylvania Congressman and Trump ally Mike Kelly released this statement on the indictment:
“The indictment of former President Donald Trump by a district attorney who campaigned on putting him in jail truly defines the weaponization of the Justice system," said Rep. Kelly. "Make no mistake: their goal is not justice. It is to prevent a former President of the United States from running for office again. This latest attempt by the Left to take down Mr. Trump is the height of hypocrisy. As this process plays out, I encourage everyone to remember that each American is innocent until proven guilty.”
Ohio Representative and longtime Trump supporter Jim Jordan tweeted "Outrageous" after news of the indictment.
Senator Ted Cruz, a former primary opponent of Trump's, tweeted the following:
Florida Governor and potential Trump primary opponent Ron DeSantis called the indictment "un-American."
