(Al Jazeera Media Network) Donald Trump has announced he will be indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents.
The former U.S. president said on his Truth Social platform that he had been summoned to appear at a federal court in Florida on Tuesday.
The Justice Department has not confirmed the indictment.
Below are some reactions from U.S. politicians.
Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the House, Republican:
“Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America. It is unconscionable for a president to indict the leading candidate opposing him.
“Joe Biden kept classified documents for decades. I, and every American who believes in the rule of law, stand with President Trump against this grave injustice. House Republicans will hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable.”
Former vice president Mike Pence said earlier Thursday that if Trump were to be indicted, he would hope the Justice Department had strong evidence – a shift in tone from the night before, when he said he hoped Trump wouldn’t be charged even if evidence is clear he committed a crime.
Ron DeSantis, Florida governor and candidate for the Republican nomination:
“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 administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias, and end weaponization once and for all.”
Representative Dan Goldman, Democrat:
“Once again, a grand jury has found probable cause to indict former president Trump. This country was founded on the principle that we are a government of laws, not people, and that no person, not even a former president, is above the law.
“We are blessed with a legal system that is designed to vindicate the robust rights of all defendants, and just like any other criminal defendant, Donald Trump has longstanding constitutional rights to a trial by jury, to confront his accusers, and to legal counsel.
“If he believes that the legal or factual basis for his indictment is unfounded, he can make that argument to a judge, who decides the law, or a jury, which decides the facts. But this case should be litigated in the court of law, not the court of public opinion, and most definitely not the halls of Congress.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/9/no-one-is-above-the-law-reactions-to-trump-indictment
