Topline
Some of President Donald Trump’s staunchest supporters immediately took to social media Saturday to blast his possible indictment, after he predicted he would be arrested Tuesday and called for protests.
Both Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted their support for Donald … [+]
Key Facts
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said an indictment would be “an outrageous abuse of power” by Bragg, noting he would direct committees to investigate whether federal funds were used to interfere in the 2024 presidential election “with politically motivated prosecutions.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) tweeted Saturday that Trump “did nothing wrong” and claimed, with no evidence, Justice Department officials were coordinating with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to indict Trump, saying, “This is what they do in communist countries to destroy their political opponents!”
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said Trump “used his own money to resolve a private dispute” and called a possible indictment “an absurd abuse of the criminal process in our politics.”
Chip Roy (R-Texas) said a “politically motivated” decision to indict Trump is based on “strained, convoluted legal theory” and suggested—without evidence—a “politicized ‘justice’ system” is being “weaponized” against Americans.
Richard Grenell, the former director of U.S. National Intelligence, claimed Democrats are responsible for the indictment and “they must be stopped or they will soon ruin our country permanently.”
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), referring to a possible indictment, said “this type of stuff only occurs in third-world authoritarian nations,” adding, “if they can come for Trump, they will come for you.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said during an event Saturday that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office “has done more to help Donald Trump get elected president than a single person in America.”
Former Vice President Mike Pence was critical of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office—suggesting the prosecution prioritize a “crime wave” in the city—and said a possible indictment is part of “a politically motivated prosecution of the former president.”
Surprising Fact
The world’s second-richest man, Twitter owner and conservative darling Elon Musk responded to a report on Trump’s possible arrest by predicting, “If this happens, Trump will be re-elected in a landslide victory.”
Crucial Quote
“If they indict [Trump] and fail to convict in New York, I think historians will look back and say that is the act that reelected Donald Trump as president,” John Bolton—Trump’s onetime national security adviser and now a staunch critic—told CNN, adding said Trump’s call for protests is “very dangerous.”
Key Background
Trump posted on his Truth Social account Saturday he expected to be arrested on Tuesday.. NBC reported Friday that local, state and federal law enforcement were preparing to take security precautions ahead of a possible announcement by the Manhattan Criminal Court.
Further Reading
Trump Says He Will Be Arrested Tuesday—Urges Supporters To Protest (Forbes)
Trump Could Be Indicted As Early As Next Week, Report Says (Forbes)
