Jacob Ogles
President Donald Trump is facing indictment for a third time this year as he runs for the GOP presidential nomination for the chance to take on President Joe Biden. Florida political leaders sounded off on the legal development.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, tweeted: “As President, I will end the weaponization of government, replace the FBI Director, and ensure a single standard of justice for all Americans. While I’ve seen reports, I have not read the indictment. I do, though, believe we need to enact reforms so that Americans have the right to remove cases from Washington, D.C. to their home districts. Washington, D.C. is a ‘swamp’ and it is unfair to have to stand trial before a jury that is reflective of the swamp mentality. One of the reasons our country is in decline is the politicization of the rule of law. No more excuses — I will end the weaponization of the federal government.”
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, a Naples Republican, tweeted: “It seems like every time we learn more about Biden’s shady business dealings, his DOJ indicts President Trump.”
U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, a Tampa Democrat, tweeted: “Trump has always loved himself more than America and the U. S. Constitution. Accountability is vital, but will not be complete until we join together and vote out the MAGA crowd.”
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Miramar Democrat, tweeted: “The rule of law must remain sacred for our democracy to function. Special exceptions can never apply.”
U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Hollywood Democrat, sent out a full statement: “The cornerstone of our democracy is the sacred right of every American citizen to cast their vote and have it count. We witnessed an unprecedented assault on this fundamental principle by former President Trump — the now thrice indicted, twice impeached, sued, insurrection inciter. Today’s indictment sends yet another resounding message that no one, no matter how powerful or influential, is above the law. Trump’s attempt to subvert the will of millions of voters cannot be ignored. I’m grateful our Justice Department is holding him responsible for trying to undermine the very bedrock of our democracy. This indictment signals a strong commitment to accountability and preserving the people’s trust in their government. Justice will be served.”
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Naples Republican, issued a statement: “Here we are again, another Biden-backed indictment of his chief political opponent — the former President and leading candidate for the Republican nomination — Donald J. Trump. Jack Smith is a rogue prosecutor with an axe to grind against President Trump, who is willing to tip the country and the rule of law on its head by throwing indictment after indictment against their threat. This selective use of the full breadth of the federal government to attack Trump while concocting sweetheart deals for Hunter (Biden), Hillary (Clinton), and the rest of the Democrat darlings is something you expect in a third-world country, not the United States of America. My support of President Trump grows with every egregious attempt by Biden’s (Department of Justice) to interfere with the 2024 Presidential Election.”
U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, a Panama City Republican, tweeted: “Once again, our Justice System is being abused to fulfill a political agenda. This latest indictment against Former President Trump serves as nothing more than a smoke screen to distract Americans from the Biden Family Scandal. This is an abuse of power.”
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Fort Walton Beach Republican, tweeted: “Jack Smith and his indictment will forever go down in history as a total disgrace to the United States of America. President Trump defended our democracy, and we have an obligation to defend him against the Deep State’s crusade to destroy our movement.”
U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez, a Miami-Dade Republican, tweeted: “Stacey Abrams challenged her election and got to play President on Star Trek. President Trump challenged the election and gets indicted!”
U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a St. Petersburg Republican, tweeted: “The indictment against Trump is total garbage.”
U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, a Winter Park Republican, tweeted: “It’s not shocking that every time the Biden crime family has evidence surface (FD-1023), or a congressional hearing that exposes further corruption and abuses of power, that the weaponized DoJ indicts his top political opponent (Pres. Trump). The American people are not buying the political witch hunts any longer, and the Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government must start its hearings into the DoJ abuses and AG (Merrick) Garland.”
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican, tweeted: “Another indictment to make President Trump even stronger! Nothing but prosecutorial misconduct from a completely weaponized DOJ. MAGA!”
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Weston Democrat: “Donald Trump’s Big Lie involved a violent, deadly plot to overturn the legitimate outcome of a presidential election, subvert the will of the American people and overthrow our democracy. Of all his alleged crimes, this indictment is the most grave and demands adherence to America’s guiding principle that no one, including the president, stands above our laws. For now, it is critical that a fair, legal process unfold without interference.”
U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster, a Clermont Republican, issued a statement: “Once again, we are witnessing the weaponization of the federal government at the highest level. Not only are the latest indictments targeting Donald Trump the latest example of a two-tier justice system, it’s an indictment against the First Amendment. The latest indictments coincidentally come the day after House Republicans heard from Hunter Biden’s longtime business partner, testifying that Hunter Biden used his father, then-Vice President Joe Biden, for influence with business dealings. The American people see through Biden’s two-tier justice system in this latest attempt to continue their never-ending witch-hunt against the leading Republican Presidential nominee, President Trump. I remain committed to holding the Biden Administration and far-left officials accountable for their abuse of powers, and will continue to work with my Republican colleagues to conduct oversight and restore the rule of law for the American people.”
41 comments
PeterH
August 1, 2023 at 6:13 pm
Trump and his six co-conspirators are not above the law! The NYT is reporting that Jeffrey Clark is one of the six co-conspirators!
ScienceBLVR
August 1, 2023 at 6:42 pm
Shame on those Republicans quoted as saying this is a witch hunt and those good folks who served on the grand jury in DC, listened to the evidence and indicted Trump, are nothing more than swamp people colluding with the government and the media. I know many Republicans who don’t agree, just these sycophants in Florida. Shame!
My Take
August 1, 2023 at 6:44 pm
PRISON ! We Want PRISON !!
We are better than the MAGAs.
We don’t call for death.
My Take
August 1, 2023 at 6:55 pm
As many people know, Republican pols habitually accuse others of the things they–the GOPols–are doing or would do.
Terri
August 1, 2023 at 7:12 pm
DeSantis just doesn’t like anything! He wants to dismantle everything in his way like he is trying to do in Florida. He doesn’t have the brains or the brawn to handle a presidentcy. He needs to be a president of his own very small island so he can’t bother anyone else’s life.
My Take
August 1, 2023 at 7:25 pm
Navassa!
It’s a US possession.
He could rule over the wild goats. Probably as dumb as his base.
My Take
August 1, 2023 at 7:43 pm
Where is Trumpy’s army of big BIG PROBLEMS he has several times now threatened with?
Just hollow desperate threats.
Prison for 1/9 insurrectionists has tended to dampen the fires.
Michael K
August 1, 2023 at 8:59 pm
I wonder if any of these Florida politicians have ever served on a grand jury? Would be good to know if they have any experience in this arena. It’s a very high bar.
A “witch hunt” would have bypassed due process, right? So far as I can tell, there appears to be strong enough evidence for jurors to agree to indict on these counts.
I guess the Florida politicians need to be asked publicly, again, and on the record, who won the 2020 election.
My Take
August 2, 2023 at 12:35 am
Has Trumpy claimed yet that the new judge is a Trump-hater.
And speaking of Trump-haters, imagine all the folks from through the decades, from NYC on, who have personal reason to dislike Trump. Imagine how much they are enjoying this!
Sonja Fitch
August 2, 2023 at 6:05 am
As if?!!! Common Good! It is so refreshing to breathe with the leadership of Biden! Instead of the paranoid delusional Trump bs!
Diane
August 2, 2023 at 11:51 am
Yes Biden is so great look at the price of gas,food, everything he touches. I had money in the bank when Donald Trump was president now I don’t. Companies are going out of business left and right. Yes Biden is a great president! Donald Trump was the greatest president ever and we know it. President Donald Trump will be back and clean up the Biden mess he made all over the world.
Silly Wabbit
August 2, 2023 at 12:34 pm
You kwazy.
Sara
August 2, 2023 at 5:04 pm
READ THE INDICTMENTS AND THEN COME BACK AND SAY HOW GREAT THESE PEOPLE ARE!!!!!
Lori B
August 3, 2023 at 5:42 pm
You must be joking! Trump left Biden a MESS, especially with Covid. Did you cash the checks Biden approved? You think TRUMP would have given you anything? They have EVIDENCE that grifter has stolen MILLIONS from his idiot supporters to pay his LEGAL FEES. Anyone whose dumb enough to believe ANYTHING out of his mouth deserves what they get.
Earl Pitts "Most Loved Most Hated" American
August 2, 2023 at 9:39 am
Oh look what we have above America,
Our benevolant host, F. P., is obligated to report on this the 4th or 6th Trump indictment because it’s the business they are in. Thank You, F.P. keep up the great work and service to our communitty.
What is really entertaining is the above commenters who think anyone on the left or right is actually paying attention to this latest rendition of indict Trump. These above Dook 4 Brains Leftist commenters must be the leftist versions of “Boomers” who are so slow mentally that they dont even have a clue that 98% of America has stopped paying attention and moved on a few indictments ago.
And its extra funny because Barak and the other Biden puppet masters are only doing this lame @55 indictment as a “Lookey Here – Dont look at the Guilty Biden Crime Family type of distraction “shiny object”.
And funnyest of all Barak’s “Look here dont look there” distraction is 100% not even working!!!!
I, Earl Pitts American, do declare:
This $HlT’s funny as HEII – America this is so off the chain regarding the utter stupidity of the left ( how ‘ya doing Barak?) that you or me, Earl Pitts American, just cant make this stuff up.
I mean just suppose for a moment this stupid scenario was not really playing out right now in American Media and I, Earl Pitts American, told you some C0ck & Bull story like this one – you would rightly think that I, Earl Pitts American had lost my ever loving mind and had me, Earl Pitts American, put in a straight jacket and committed to a mental institution. (How ‘ya doing now Barak?),
EPA
Thank you America,
EPA
Silly Wabbit
August 2, 2023 at 12:35 pm
You kwazy.
My Take
August 2, 2023 at 9:53 am
The unceasing, and coordinated, GOPer lying is irrìtating, of course, but their prevailing unhappiness and sense of persecution is a delight. The wicked should not be happy.
Ocean Joe
August 2, 2023 at 10:18 am
Just as they always say “thoughts and prayers” after even assault weapons fueled mass slaughter, they drag out the tired, “weaponization of the justice department” as some kind of excuse for the criminal wrongdoings, no matter how serious.
Maybe, just maybe it’s long overdue for the Justice Department to actually prosecute those who break the law regardless of their political position or wealth.
Anybody who watched what unfolded on Jan 6 who has a fraction of a brain knows it was outrageous, and the mob was sent there immediately after Trump ginned them up telling them to fight, and the purpose was to halt certification of the electoral vote count by interrupting it in order to stall for time while another wing of nazis arranged for red state legislatures to steal state elections for Trump. Unfortunately, a handful of Republican officials stood their ground and Trump was unable to pull off the theft of an election he projects on others.
Eliot G
August 2, 2023 at 10:28 am
As I read through these comments I understand why conservative readers generally do not comment. As a conservative, it has been my experience that liberals rely solely on their feelings, never on substance, when commenting. Especially when it comes to all things Trump.
Let me lay out a few facts concerning the timings of these indictments and their relationship with reports about Biden corruptions. I believe that these indictments are political and are being brought to prevent Trump from running for president. But before I do that, I also question Democrat assertions that Trump is the threat to our democracy (BTW, we live in a republic) and so, must not be allowed to run. To me, the Democrats (Biden, DOJ/FBI, corporate media) are the real threats because by attempting to prevent Trump from running, they are the ones commiting election interference. They are interfering with my right to vote for Trump. But here’s the thing. They are also interfering with liberals their right to vote against Trump.
The timeline.
On June 7 the FBI released documents that allege the Bidens took a $10Million bribe from Burisma ($5M for Hunter, $5M for Joe) to have the prosecutor that was investigating Burisma (where Hunter sat on the BoD) fired. Joe later went on to brag about getting the prosecutor fired.
On June 8, one day later, Jack Smith (who is not an impartial person) indicts Trump in the Mar-A-Lago documents case.
On July 26 Hunter goes to court to plead guilty on a very lenient plea deal for tax evasion and gun posession that apparently included immunity on any and all future charges. These are things people have been sent to prison for. But not Hunter Biden. The judge smells a rat an rejects the deal.
On July 27, one day later, Jack Smith adds more charges to the Mar-A-Lago case.
On July 31 Devon Archer testifies to Congress that Joe was on phone with Hunter’s foreign business clients at least 20 times. Something Joe has denied happening many times.
On August 1, one day later, Jack Smith indicts Trump for things related to the January 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol.
Coincidences? I think not. This is all political and deliberate to tie Trump up in fighting these indictments to the point he won’t have time to run a campaign while the DOJ/FBI/Media continue to cover up the Biden corruptions.
Oh! Let’s not forget the rediculous indictment in NY in the Stormy Daniels case and the unbelievable defamation judgement in the E. Jean Carroll case.
And there is still the alleged election interference case in Georgia. I’ll bet the Democrats are just waiting for the next Biden corruption bombshell before bringing an indictment in that one.
Silly Wabbit
August 2, 2023 at 12:37 pm
You kwazy.
Eliot G
August 2, 2023 at 1:45 pm
I’ll take “kwazy” over stupid anytime.
Eliot G
August 2, 2023 at 1:46 pm
I’ll take kwazy over stupid anytime.
Silly Wabbit
August 2, 2023 at 6:31 pm
You kwazy.
Joyce Pruitt
August 2, 2023 at 10:01 pm
Love your answer😭
Dont Say FLA
August 2, 2023 at 3:15 pm
OK go ahead a lay out some facts. Here I got a couple
Fact 1: Snopes is full of debunks of your Newsmax nonsense.
Snopes. THAT is how fake your nonsense is.
Eh. that’s enough. Good luck getting kwazy some day. It would be an improvement for ya!
My Take
August 2, 2023 at 3:56 pm
Conveniently, Trumpy had a mountain of crimes for his enemies to work with.
At least the many MAGA lies are getting more organized.
“It ALL adds up!!” howl the loons.
Eliot G
August 2, 2023 at 7:43 pm
Very pithy. I’m impressed by your pithyness.
Eliot G
August 2, 2023 at 6:08 pm
I’m assuming you are talking about the bribery allegations. Besides Snopes being a dubious place to fact check anything, Snope labeled the Biden bribery allegation False. Here’s a link to a NY Post article. Believe what you want. https://nypost.com/2023/07/20/biden-bribe-file-released-burisma-chief-said-both-joe-and-hunter-involved/
Question. Why didn’t the FBI investigate these credible allegations and why were they so reluctant to release the unclassified FD-1023 document?
Michael K
August 2, 2023 at 11:48 am
Oh honey. Central questions: 1) Did the former president of the United States attempt to overturn the results of a free and fair election by promoting lies and deceiving the American people? 2) Did he incite a riot at the US Capital in an attempt to stop the Congressional certification of the election results? 3) Did he refuse to participate in the peaceful transfer of power? And regarding Georgia: Did you not listen to the phone call where the former president of the United States is asking election officials to “find” him some votes?
Your “whataboutism” and conspiracy theories ignores well documented facts in the case, and the overwhelming evidence presented to a grand jury leading to the indictments.
Silly Wabbit
August 2, 2023 at 12:38 pm
You good.
Eliot G
August 2, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Question 1: No Followup: How did Trump try to overturn the election and what did he lie about.? Besides, last time I looked, expressing a political opinion is protected under 1A.
Question 2: He did not incite anyone to riot on 1/6. Why do you say that? My take is that the police firing rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowd is what incited the riot.
Question 3: Say what? How did Trump refuse to participate in the transition?
Georgia: There are serious questions about how Fulton County (Atlanta) ran its vote counting. So Trump asked for more votes. So what?
I would remind you that Democrats ALWAYS dispute elections that they’ve lost. Incitement to violence? Take a look at Chuck Schumer at the Supreme Court after the Kavenaugh confirmation. Take a look at Maxine Waters during the Trump adminstration. Name one Democrat that condemned the BLM and Antifa violence.
Dont Say FLA
August 2, 2023 at 3:17 pm
Whatabout Smelliot says whatabout whatabout whatabout, other stuff, other stuff, other stuff. Try to stay on topic, Smelliot. If you want to talk about Newsmax nonsense, please go to the Newsmax site
Eliot G
August 2, 2023 at 6:11 pm
Typical lib. All I did was ask questions. When you cannot argue or discuss civily, you always resort to name calling.
Dont Say FLA
August 3, 2023 at 8:33 am
What About Smelliout G says, “Whatabout all the derails I was trying? Stop talking about the latest Trump indictments! I demand the internet change topics from Trump’s latest bunch of indictments (for now)! Wahhhh!” But okay, I’ll drop the ‘Smelliot.” I can’t take credit for that one anyways. That was EPA and another Elliot.
Hey What About (not Smelliot) G, did you hear, Trump just got MORE indictments, and there looks to more to come!
You know why Trump got more indictments with more probably to come, WAG? Because McGruff the Crime Dog says “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!”
TJC
August 2, 2023 at 12:49 pm
If you ever doubt that DeSantis likes to trot out racist fear-induced hatred, just listen to his use of the word “swamp” (a place where scary animals live) in this quote:
“…we need to enact reforms so that Americans have the right to remove cases from Washington, D.C. to their home districts. Washington, D.C. is a ‘swamp’ and it is unfair to have to stand trial before a jury that is reflective of the swamp mentality.”
He’s talking about the jury pool, of course, and is fully aware that D.C. has a large percentage of Black citizens (Blacks plus Asians outnumber whites in D.C.). He’s also fully aware that when you commit a crime in D.C., your “home district” has nothing to do with the consequence. He will say he means the politicians and bureaucrats of D.C. are the swamp he’s talking about, but he knows darn well they would not qualify for a jury in this case. He’s a race-baiter, just like his mentor.
TJC
August 2, 2023 at 12:54 pm
Every good story needs its comic relief, and we can always count on Rick Scott — here he worries about “Biden’s shady business dealings,” and that’s a hoot coming from the former CEO of the shadiest massive fraud scandal in the history of U.S. health care. You have to wonder, does he not understand irony?
William
August 2, 2023 at 1:23 pm
Trump is a evil human being has proved it over and over. He is a lier a womanizer a cheat a rapist a thief a creep. Jail would be the best place for him to be
Mari
August 2, 2023 at 2:55 pm
You are wacky ! What are you smoking ?
My Take
August 2, 2023 at 5:05 pm
Be funnier.
Silly Wabbit
August 2, 2023 at 6:37 pm
You kwazy.
Dont Say FLA
August 2, 2023 at 2:46 pm
A President Rhonda would end the weaponization of the DoJ right after all the libraries had been torn down, the internet cut off, and all the trans gay drag queens incinerated till dead. Hard pass on any and all of that, Rhonda.
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