Republicans Decry DOJ Weaponization, Call Trump Indictment a ‘Witch Hunt’

Reactions from GOP 2024 presidential candidates to Donald Trump’s announcement that he’s been indicted by the Biden administration ranged from slamming to sympathizing, with some promising to end the weaponization of government against political foes and others calling for the former president’s exit from the race.

On Thursday, Trump said that special counsel Jack Smith informed his legal team that he had been indicted in a classified-documents investigation, making him the first former U.S. president to face federal criminal charges. “I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!” he declared.

“The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society,” tweeted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who many see as Trump’s chief rival for the Republican nomination. “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.”

Speaking on Fox News, South Carolina Senator and 2024 contender Tim Scott decried the weaponization of the Department of Justice, saying that justice should be blind.

“You don’t have to be a Republican to see injustice and want to fix it. You don’t have to be a Democrat to see injustice and want to fix it. You just have to be an American and stand up for the right thing,” Scott said. “The one thing that makes America the city on the hill is confidence in our justice system. And today, what we see is a justice system where the scales are weighted.”

Conservative pundit and entrepreneur and presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy blasted the “federal police state” for selectively targeting Democrats’ political opponents, warning that the country is devolving into a banana republic where the rule of law could be replaced by force of power.

“We can’t have two tiers of justice: one for Trump, another for Biden. One for Assange, another for Manning,” he tweeted. “One for BLM/Antifa, another for peaceful protesters on Jan 6. It would be much easier for me to win this election if Trump weren’t in the race, but I stand for principles over politics. I commit to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025 and to restore the rule of law in our country.”

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who launched his presidential bid on Tuesday, urged the public not to jump to conclusions ahead of the formal indictment, which should be unsealed in the coming days. “We don’t get our news from Trump’s Truth Social account,” he tweeted. “Let’s see what the facts are when any possible indictment is released. As I have said before, no one is above the law, no matter how much they wish they were. We will have more to say when the facts are revealed.”

Former vice president Mike Pence and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, both in the 2024 race, have not commented on the indictment yet. But speaking on CNN after he announced his candidacy on Wednesday, Pence said he didn’t think his former boss should be indicted.

“I think it would also send a terrible message to the wider world,” he said. “I mean, we’re the emblem of democracy. We’re the symbol of justice in the world.”

Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas and presidential candidate, was the most outspoken about Trump’s misconduct, calling for him to end his presidential campaign.

“Donald Trump’s actions — from his willful disregard for the Constitution to his disrespect for the rule of law — should not define our nation or the Republican Party,” Hutchison tweeted. “While Donald Trump is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the ongoing criminal proceedings will be a major distraction. This reaffirms the need for Donald Trump to respect the office and end his campaign.”

After announcing his indictment, Trump told Fox News Thursday: “This is the most corrupt administration in history—there has never been an administration so corrupt, and they’re just starting to find it right now.”

“They are trying to deflect all of their dishonesty by bringing this ridiculous boxes hoax case,” he added. “They’re not going to get away with it.”

Republican leaders and many GOP lawmakers were fervent in their defense of Trump against what they deemed political persecution by the Democrats.

“It is unconscionable for a President to indict the leading candidate opposing him,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted. “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.”

The GOP members of the House Judiciary Committee simply tweeted, “WITCH HUNT.”

Some members of the House Freedom Caucus, such as Representative Matt Gaetz, alleged that the indictment was a coverup for the corruption of Biden and his family members, who have been accused of engaging in shady overseas business dealings.

“The phony Boxes Hoax indictment is an attempt to distract the American public from the millions of dollars in bribes that the Biden Crime Family received from foreign nationals,” Gaetz said. “This scheme won’t succeed. President Donald Trump will be back in the White House and Joe Biden will be Hunter’s cellmate.”

“Democrats are arresting their political enemies and they work together in their corrupt ways to get it done,” Representative Marjorie Taylor-Greene wrote. “It’s time for Republicans to unify.”

Some more moderate Republicans also chimed in to condemn the indictment.

“This is a banana republic,” Representative Nancy Mace said during a Fox News appearance Thursday. “I can’t believe this is happening. He’s trying to take out his political opponents using the executive branch.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise echoed his colleagues: “Joe Biden is weaponizing his Department of Justice against his own political rival. This sham indictment is the continuation of the endless political persecution of Donald Trump.”

Trump has been charged with seven criminal counts, multiple outlets have reported. Trump attorney Jim Trusty told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins: “They basically break out from an Espionage Act charge … several obstruction based-type charges and false statement charges.” A retention charge and conspiracy charge are also included in the indictment, he said.