Missouri lawmakers react to Trump indictment
Editor's note: This story will be updated with more reactions as they come in.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Former President Donald Trump was indicted by a grand jury Thursday in New York.
The indictment has been filed under seal and will be announced in the coming days, according to CNN. The charges are not publicly known at this time.
Several Missouri lawmakers had reactions to the news of the indictment Thursday.
Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley rushed to the defense of Trump, following the indictment announcement.
“Tonight’s indictment of Donald Trump isn’t about the law. It’s about power. Raw power,” Hawley tweeted. “It’s the Democrat Party telling the nation they will stop at nothing to control the outcome of the next presidential election. It is an assault on our democracy, pure and simple.”
Hawley also went to Fox News to voice his displeasure. He later referred to the indictment in a fundraising email.
Tonight’s indictment of Donald Trump isn’t about the law. It’s about power. Raw power. It’s the Democrat Party telling the nation they will stop at nothing to control the outcome of the next presidential election. It is an assault on our democracy, pure and simple
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 30, 2023
Sen. Eric Schmitt called the case “partisan” and made a reference to George Soros, a billionaire who is an often target of right-leaning politicians and pundits, and the subject of a number of online conspiracies.
“This is purely a partisan case against President Trump,” Schmitt tweeted. “Soros DA Bragg campaigned on prosecuting President Trump, while violent crime in NYC rages on & violent criminals walk free This is a political prosecution in search of a crime & sets an dangerous precedent going forward”
This is purely a partisan case against President Trump
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) March 30, 2023
Soros DA Bragg campaigned on prosecuting President Trump, while violent crime in NYC rages on & violent criminals walk free
This is a political prosecution in search of a crime & sets an dangerous precedent going forward
Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, on his personal Twitter account, made similar claims as Schmitt.
“This weaponization of the legal system by another Soros-funded prosecutor is beyond reprehensible,” Kehoe tweeted. “It’s obvious that this political persecution by the Manhattan DA is about power, and it does nothing but undermine our justice system.”
This weaponization of the legal system by another Soros-funded prosecutor is beyond reprehensible.
— Mike Kehoe (@MikeLKehoe) March 30, 2023
It’s obvious that this political persecution by the Manhattan DA is about power, and it does nothing but undermine our justice system.
Other Republicans reiterated the same points. Rep. Mark Alford (Missouri 4th District) called it "political persecution" and retweeted other lawmakers from around the country who shared his opinion, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
"This indictment is a direct undermining of our judicial institutions. Never before have we seen something like this," Alford tweeted. "Anyone who tells you this is not political persecution is lying. What a joke!"
This indictment is a direct undermining of our judicial institutions. Never before have we seen something like this.
— Mark Alford (@RepMarkAlford) March 30, 2023
Anyone who tells you this is not political persecution is lying. What a joke!
While Missouri Republicans were coming to Trump's defense, not many Democrats in the state reacted, at least not immediately.
U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, who represents Missouri's first district, didn't write anything on social media. She did, however, retweet the statement shared by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and added a .gif of women clapping.
https://t.co/058U9pDtEC pic.twitter.com/2ONkQxpDlL
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) March 31, 2023
This story is developing.
