A number of prominent Republicans have rushed to Trump’s aid since he said over the weekend that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday and urged his supporters to protest.
Three House Republican committee chairmen demanded the testimony of the Manhattan district attorney on Monday as he weighs a possible indictment against Donald Trump, joining a growing chorus of GOP voices who have come to the former president’s defense in recent days.
Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky and Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, the chairmen of the House judiciary, oversight and administration committees, wrote a letter to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Monday asking for his testimony and documents related to the hush-money case involving an adult film star.
“You are reportedly about to engage in an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority: the indictment of a former President of the United States and current declared candidate for that office,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Bragg, arguing that the action would “erode confidence in the evenhanded application of justice” and interfere in the upcoming election.
The letter comes after a number of prominent Republicans have rushed to Trump’s aid since he said in a social media post over the weekend that he expected to be arrested on Tuesday, citing what he called a “highly political” Manhattan’s district attorney’s office while urging his supporters to protest.
An indictment related to the former president’s role in the hush money scheme involving Stormy Daniels, an adult film actor who alleges that she had an extramarital affair with Trump, has been widely anticipated. But the timing remains unclear. Even so, law enforcement agencies are reportedly preparing for protests this week.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters on Sunday night he doesn’t think people should protest the possible indictment, calling for “calmness,” though he said the investigation is politically motivated while teasing the moves to come from members of his caucus.
A number of fellow Republicans expected to announce presidential runs have also been quick to denigrate Bragg’s expected move, including former Vice President Mike Pence and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, while others, like New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie argued the move would only bolster Trump.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has yet to announce a presidential bid, likewise criticized the Manhattan district attorney on Monday, for “pursuing a political agenda and weaponizing the office.” But he also took the opportunity to make a jab at Trump.
“Look, I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair,” DeSantis told a crowd to laughter. “I just – I can’t speak to that.”
