A new poll indicates that the majority of registered voters believe that the indictment of former President Donald Trump is "politically motivated" and election interference.
The poll comes from Harvard/Harris. Between June 14 and 15, the pollster surveyed some 2,090 registered voters, asking them a variety of questions about the contemporary political scene.
The poll comes after President Joe Biden's Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Trump in relation to his alleged mishandling of classified documents. Special counsel Jack Smith, the man leading the case, has accused Trump of committing 37 crimes, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, a scheme to conceal, and false statements.
Trump has been arraigned and has pled "not guilty."
The pollster asked participants a number of questions about the indictment of Trump, including this: "do you think Trump's indictment over the handling of classified documents is a valid indictment, or is it politically motivated?"
A majority - 55% - selected "politically motivated." Significantly, 83% of Republican participants and 55% of independents selected this option, whereas 72% of Democrats said that it was a "valid indictment."
The pollster also asked participants this: "do you consider this federal indictment to be an interference by the Department of Justice in the 2024 elections, or is it the fair application of the law."
Once again, a majority - 56% chose "interference by the DOJ in the 2024 elections." This includes 84% of Republicans and 51% of independents. But, 68% of Democrats said that it is a "fair application of the law."
The put these questions into context, Trump has claimed that the indictment is politically motivated and election interference, whereas Smith has claimed that it is a fair application of the law. The majority of poll participants sided with Trump.
What this poll and other similar polls clearly show is what a partisan issue Trump's indictment.
This is precisely why some experts - such as renowned defense attorney Alan Dershowitz - have argued that the indictment should not have been brought against Trump unless there is clear proof that Trump has done something wrong - such that Republicans would not even disagree with the indictment.
Whether or not the DOJ has this clear proof remains to be seen.
In the meantime, the indictment only appears to be making Trump stronger. Those who supported him before are supporting him more vehemently now. And, some of those who were on the fence as to whether to support him are now supporting him.
Trump has revealed that his 2024 presidential campaign has raised over $7 million since the indictment.
