Several prominent Republicans are defending former President Donald Trump as jury selection began Monday in the first of four criminal trials, the Huffington Post reported. Those who are on his shortlist for vice president have remained loyal.
The trial began this week in New York as Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records over payments he made to former porn star Stormy Daniels. He allegedly paid her to keep quiet about their affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election but failed to disclose it as a campaign expense.
Trump has rightly identified this trial as an effort to keep him from winning another White House term in 2024. He pleaded not guilty and says he committed no wrongdoing.
In the face of a political prosecution, some heavy hitters on the right have taken to defending him, including many who are rumored to be on his shortlist for a vice presidential running mate, CNN reported. Meanwhile, the left continues its crusade against the former president.
On Monday, several Republicans showed their support with posts to X, formerly Twitter, as the first stages of the trial were underway. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), thought to be a likely vice presidential pick, did his part in a post Monday.
"What the radical Left is doing is not just election interference, it’s election engineering," Scott wrote. "They will try everything (and fail) to stop Donald J. Trump."
What the radical Left is doing is not just election interference, it’s election engineering.
They will try everything (and fail) to stop Donald J. Trump.
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) April 15, 2024
Former Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders also attacked Democrats for their transparent attempt to thwart Trump's 2024 presidential bid. "The only reason New York Democrats launched the witch hunt against President Trump is because they know they can't beat him at the ballot box," Sanders posted Monday.
The only reason New York Democrats launched the witch hunt against President Trump is because they know they can't beat him at the ballot box.
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) April 15, 2024
While some focused on the motivations of those bringing the charges, others saw the glaring problems with the people bringing the case, including Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan.
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) railed against Bragg in a post to X. "What Alvin Bragg is doing to President Trump is a disgrace to the rule of law and the opposite of Justice. It's also election interference," Vance, who has expressed interest in becoming Trump's running mate, said.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) supported Trump's assertion that Merchan is "corrupt" because of his daughter's work with Democrats who use Trump's trial to fundraise. Despite this, Merchan has refused to recuse himself from the trial on several occasions.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum called the proceedings a "sham trial" and an "unprecedented attack on" Trump while he was campaigning for president. Kari Lake, who has remained loyal for Trump and is running for U.S. Senate in Arizona, took to social media to support Trump's request to skip a day in the trial to attend son Barron Trump's graduation.
Democrats have been attempting to smear Trump with these charges, but it's clear many Republicans are sticking by him. People are tired of the ruling class rigging elections in one way or another, and big names in the GOP are ready to help stop it.
