Top Republicans and conservatives from around the country were outraged on Thursday in response to the news that former President Donald Trump had been indicted.
A federal grand jury in Florida reportedly indicted the former president on seven charges in the criminal investigation into his handling of classified material after leaving office. While no one has seen the charges, reports indicated that they range from willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and false statements.
“The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society,” DeSantis, who is also running for president, said in a statement. “We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation.”
“Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter?” he continued. “The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all.”
The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society.
We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation.
Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter?
The DeSantis…
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) June 9, 2023
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said that it was a “dark day for the United States of America” and added that House Republicans would “hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable.”
Conservative radio host Buck Sexton wrote: “This isn’t even the last of the criminal indictments Trump will face. They’re going to try to bury him in prosecutions. They see no point in holding back now. Declaration of all out lawfare.”
This isn’t even the last of the criminal indictments Trump will face
They’re going to try to bury him in prosecutions
They see no point in holding back now
Declaration of all out lawfare
— Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) June 9, 2023
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) responded: “Indicting Donald Trump is the culmination of what Merrick Garland has been pushing for since he became Attorney General. The weaponization of our Department of Justice against enemies of the Biden admin[istration] will do enormous damage to the rule of law & have a lasting impact.”
Twitter owner Elon Musk responded, “There does seem to be far higher interest in pursuing Trump compared to other people in politics.”
“Very important that the justice system rebut what appears to be differential enforcement or they will lose public trust,” Musk continued.
There does seem to be far higher interest in pursuing Trump compared to other people in politics.
Very important that the justice system rebut what appears to be differential enforcement or they will lose public trust.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 8, 2023
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Former President Donald Trump released a video message Thursday night after news broke that a federal grand jury has indicted him on multiple criminal charges related to his handling of classified records after leaving office.
The former president referred to the case as the “boxes hoax,” focusing on past examples of when opponents and investigators came after him and failed to take him down.
I AM AN INNOCENT MAN. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TOTALLY CORRUPT. THIS IS ELECTION INTERFERENCE & A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!pic.twitter.com/3lcIwvrPXe
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) June 9, 2023
“Very sadly we’re a nation in decline,” he said. “And yet, they go after a popular president, a president that got more votes than any sitting president in the history of our country, by far, and did much better the second time in the election than the first.”
“I’m an innocent man, I’m an innocent person,” he declared, later adding that he believes his current presidential campaign was doing so well that Democrats “figured the way they’re going to stop us is by using what’s called warfare. That’s what it is, this is warfare for the law. And we can’t let it happen. We can’t let it happen. Our country is going to hell.”
“And they come after Donald Trump, weaponizing the Justice Department, weaponizing the FBI, we can’t let this continue to go on because it’s ripping our country to shreds,” he continued. “They’re trying to destroy [my] reputation, so they can win an election. That’s just as bad as doing any of the other things that have been done over the last number of years, and especially during the 2020 election.”
Trump continued to state that he was “innocent” and he did “nothing wrong” and that he planned to “fight this out just like we’ve been fighting for seven years.”
“But now, again, our country is in decline,” he said. “We’re a failing nation. And this is what they do. I’m an innocent man, we will prove that again. Seven years of proving it. And here we go, again. Very unfair. But that’s the way it is. I just want to thank everybody. We are doing something very special for our country. We’re putting America first, I always put America first. And that’s why we were in a position. Unfortunately, that position is no longer valid because they’ve done such a poor job. But we’re in a position where we’re going to make America great again. I’m innocent and we will prove that very, very soundly.”
ABC News’ Katherine Faulders said during a special report on the network that Trump appears to have been hit with seven charges ranging from willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy, a scheme to conceal, and false statements and representations.
A source told NBC News that seven charges don’t necessarily equate to seven counts because there can be multiple counts with each charge.
Source: Daily Wire
