McCarthy, Ramaswamy Defend Trump After Third Indictment — Mike Pence Says 'Anyone Who Puts Himself Above The Constitution Should Never Be President'

On Tuesday, high-ranking Democrats and Republicans reacted to the third criminal indictment against former President Donald Trump. The indictment is in connection with his alleged attempts to reverse the 2020 Presidential election outcome.

What Happened: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) criticized the indictment, stating that it was a politically motivated attack by the Democrats. He argued that the charges were an attempt to distract from the failures of the Biden administration.

Trump-era Vice President Mike Pence emphasized the importance of upholding the Constitution in his reaction to the indictment. He stated that the Constitution must be respected and that the rule of law must be upheld.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) celebrated the principle that no one is above the law in her response. She stated that the indictment is a reminder of this principle and that it should be upheld.

Ex-National Security Advisor who served in the Trump presidency, John Bolton. described the indictment as a dark day for the country. He stated that it is a reminder of the challenges that the country faces and the need for strong leadership.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) saw the indictment as evidence of a criminal plot led by Trump. He stated that the indictment illustrates in shocking detail that the violence of January 6th was the culmination of a months-long criminal plot led by the former president to defy democracy and overturn the will of the American people.

On the other hand, Republican presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy criticized the indictment, viewing it as an un-American attempt to eliminate Trump. He committed to pardoning Trump for this indictment, stating that Donald Trump isn't the cause of what happened on Jan 6.

See Also: Donald Trump Will Still Run For President If Convicted, And Right Now That’s Perfectly Legal

Why It Matters: This is the third time Trump faces criminal charges, a first for any U.S. President. The charges include Conspiracy to defraud the United States, two counts of Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant, and Conspiracy against rights of citizens.

Despite these legal predicaments, Trump’s appeal among Republican voters remains robust. A recent survey by Morning Consult reveals Trump’s dominance in the Republican nomination with a 43-point lead, even amid potential indictments.

Trump has consistently denied all charges and has depicted these investigations as a “witch hunt” by the government to suppress his candidacy.

Trump’s campaign has leveraged these indictments as a key feature of their fundraising appeals, with a quote at the top of his campaign website stating, “They’re not after me, they’re after you. I’m just standing in the way!”

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