In the wake of the 37-count indictment filed against former President Donald Trump, two Republican members of Congress have raised eyebrows with their strikingly belligerent responses.
The indictment against Trump, charging him with conspiracy to obstruct justice and withholding documents, among other allegations, sets a date for his court appearance on Tuesday, June 13. However, the reaction it has stirred among some Republican representatives is already causing waves.
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.), a former law enforcement officer known for his tough talk and recently filmed altercation with an activist, took to Twitter to advise his followers to “Buckle up” – a post bearing an ominous resemblance to military orders.
Another Twitter user identified the cryptic “1/50K” in Higgins’s post as a common scale for military maps, while “know your bridges” might hint at a strategic takeover of vital infrastructure.
A similar military tone was adopted by another Republican representative, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who pronounced on Twitter, “We have now reached a war phase,” followed by a chilling “Eye for an eye.”
In response to the incendiary tweet, Biggs’s spokesperson, Matthew Tragesser, rejected the insinuation of a war declaration, attributing it instead to a rogue and weaponized Department of Justice.
The indictment of Trump has instigated a surge of combative rhetoric. Fox News host Mark Levin echoed the warlike sentiment, calling the charges as a “war on Trump.” He extended his argument to suggest a wider “war on the Republican Party” and the US itself, drawing a parallel between the indictment and the 2021 US Capitol riot.
Levin characterized the indictment itself as an act of insurrection, accusing the Attorney General and US attorney of weaponizing the government against a former president and leading Republican nominee. His statements appeared to allude also to the charges levied against Trump in March in New York in the Stormy Daniels hush money case.
As the 37-count indictment against former President Donald Trump continues to send shockwaves across the political landscape, several other high-profile political figures have voiced their responses, varying from stern rebuke to cautious observance.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential formidable adversary to Trump, avoided directly commenting on the charges. The Governor, on a fundraising mission in Texas, tweeted about the “weaponization of federal law enforcement” posing a grave threat to a free society. He assured that under his administration, he would bring the DOJ under control, eradicate political bias and terminate weaponization.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina also lashed out at what he called the Justice Department’s weaponization against Trump in a Fox News interview. Scott talked about the eroding faith in the justice system, committing to cleanse the system of injustices but stopped short of discussing the specific allegations against the former president.
While on the campaign trail in New Hampshire, former Vice President Mike Pence, despite his previous criticisms of Trump, expressed his disappointment. Pence called the indictment a sad day in America, condemned the politicization of the Justice Department, and promised a thorough reform of the Department if elected. He expressed his disconcertment over the indictment against Trump, asserting that the former president deserves the presumption of innocence.
Nikki Haley, former UN Ambassador under Trump, criticized the indictment in a tweet, claiming that such a step is not reflective of justice in America. Haley decried the prosecutorial overreach and double standards, urging the need to move past political drama.
Ex-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a one-time federal prosecutor, adopted a more measured stance, urging the need to wait for the facts to emerge. Christie reiterated his belief in the supremacy of law and promised a more elaborate statement once the facts are disclosed.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was the only GOP hopeful for 2024 who publicly urged Trump to drop his presidential campaign. He warned that the ongoing criminal proceedings would severely distract the nation, and Trump’s disregard for constitutional norms shouldn’t define the country or the Republican Party.