The pending indictment of former President Donald Trump may open a number of major negative changes for American society according to a number of prominent conservatives.
Republican members of Congress closed ranks around the former president, describing the potential prosecution as political in nature.
The news followed the announcement of prospective charges against the former president by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. These stem from reported payments by disgraced former Trump attorney Michael Cohen regarding a non-disclosure agreement following a reported relationship between the former president and adult actress Stormy Daniels.
Conservatives argue that the indictment is a sign of a two-tiered justice system in which actions by prominent Democrats do not result in charges.
Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) said that Democrats “have hunted Donald Trump and his family for years and years.”
The Georgia Republican also said that the indictment of the former president was a break from legal tradition. He said that “every Democrat out there who believes in civil liberties should be standing up and saying this is wrong.”
Scott also took exception with the recent tweet by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) that said that Trump had the right to “prove his innocence,” when the American legal system is based on the concept of being innocent until proven guilty.
This tweet—and the indictment it’s praising—is a mockery of our justice system.
Pelosi says Trump has a “right” to “prove [his] innocence.”
That’s exactly BACKWARDS: Under our Constitution, you’re innocent until proven guilty.
The indictment is frivolous & an abuse of power. pic.twitter.com/E6qkCO0SrN
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 31, 2023
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) also stated that the indictment would lead down a “very, very bad road.”
According to Texas Republican, the indictment “is utter and complete garbage.” He added that “This is not law. This is not a prosecution based on the fact.”
Similar to Scott’s comments, Cruz said that the prosecution is a “political vendetta brought by a left-wing partisan Democrat.”
Cruz echoed an argument made by a number of other Republicans that the prosecution is similar to that of a “banana republic.”
Furthermore, Cruz said that the efforts could result in a decline in public trust in the justice system.
Trump is expected to travel to New York this coming week to answer to the indictment. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said that his state would not cooperate with any extradition requests.
