Donald Trump's third indictment was so highly anticipated that the former president's campaign reportedly drafted its response days in advance. So it was little surprise to see Republicans rush to Trump's defense en masse after Tuesday's indictment for the Jan. 6, 2021 attack and effort to overturn the 2020 election. Even Trump's political rivals, like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, were quick to release statements decrying the criminal prosecution of an ex-president.
As President, I will end the weaponization of government, replace the FBI Director, and ensure a single standard of justice for all Americans.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) August 1, 2023
While I’ve seen reports, I have not read the indictment. I do, though, believe we need to enact reforms so that Americans have the right…
Trump is charged with four criminal counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights.
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, whose raised fist was infamously memorialized in a photo in front of the U.S. Capitol ahead of the riot, claimed that the newest indictment is part of an "effort to stop Trump from running against Biden."
Biden DOJ unveils the latest effort to stop Trump from running against Biden - totally unprecedented in American history https://t.co/CpgFaHMiG8
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) August 1, 2023
Republicans in the House of Representatives were even more ferocious in their defense of Trump:
When you drain The Swamp, The Swamp fights back.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) August 1, 2023
President Trump did nothing wrong!
If they put President Trump in jail, there will never be a fair election in America ever again.
— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) August 1, 2023
I STAND WITH TRUMP!!!
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) August 1, 2023
The politicized and weaponized DOJ is now committing election interference with this outrageous conspiracy theory set in motion to persecute President Trump and many innocent people.
Democrats can’t win on their failed America Last policies so they’ve… pic.twitter.com/TFNBtzfUCp
"No politically-motivated indictment is going to change my mind," declared Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.
We've become completely accustomed to seeing President Trump indicted for "crimes" while Joe Biden skirts the law every single day.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) August 1, 2023
No politically-motivated indictment is going to change my mind.
TRUMP 2024 NOW MORE THAN EVER.
When Trump gets elected in 2024, he’s going to do to the @FBI, @DOJPH, and @IRSnews what @elonmusk did to Twitter…expose the hell out of their corruption.
— Vernon Jones (@VernonForGA) August 1, 2023
That’s why they are doing everything they can to wipe @realDonaldTrump off the face of this earth.
Imagine, all of… pic.twitter.com/2fyf9tA4L9
Comer: I feel like someone broke into our notes on the oversight committee and plagiarized them. Only they put them down for Donald Trump instead of Joe Biden. I mean, it's a joke. It's an absolute joke. pic.twitter.com/NWl1edXxCI
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 1, 2023
Jack Smith’s got nothing. Anyone saying otherwise isn’t being honest with you.
— House Judiciary GOP 🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryGOP) August 1, 2023
ALL POLITICS.
Republicans' cries aside, the indictment sheds light on previously unreported efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The indictment shows repeated attempts to pressure former VP Pence- more than made public before. When the joint session reconvened to certify on the night of Jan 6 AFTER the capitol was stormed, PENCE got an email asked again to interfere in election results from co conspirator. pic.twitter.com/wcUUMK3gem
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) August 1, 2023
"Despite having lost, the Defendant was determined to remain in power," the indictment reads. "So for more than two months following election day on November 3, 2020, the Defendant spread lies that there had been outcome-determinative fraud in the election and that he had actually won."
The charging document continues: "These claims were false, and the Defendant knew that they were false. But the Defendant repeated and widely disseminated them anyway — to make his knowingly false claims appear legitimate, create an intense national atmosphere of mistrust and anger, and erode public faith in the administration of the election."
At least one Republican — and Trump presidential rival — was willing to criticize the former president.
"Today's indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States," Mike Pence, whose life was threatened by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, said in a statement.
