GOP Cries Foul on Trump Jan. 6 Probe, Dems Applaud
Republicans are crying foul after President Donald Trump revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating him as part of the Jan. 6 probe, while Democrats are applauding the move.
Mr. Trump stated that he received a letter from special counsel Jack Smith, giving him four days to report to a grand jury.
In a message posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Tuesday, the former president suggested that the short deadline may result in his arrest and indictment.
The charges come after Mr. Smith indicted Mr. Trump on 37 counts of mishandling classified documents.
Special counsel Jack Smith speaks at the Department of Justice in Washington on June 9, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)
Republicans are calling this a political move, pointing to Mr. Trump’s recent surge in the polls, with several showing him leading President Joe Biden by several points.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told reporters, “If you notice recently, President Trump went up in the polls, and was actually surpassing President Biden for reelection.
“So what do they do now? Weaponize government to go after their number one opponent. It’s time and time again.
“I think the American public is tired of this,” Mr. McCarthy said. “They want equal justice, and the idea that they use this to target those who disagree with them politically is wrong.”
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) told The Epoch Times that he has ”zero sympathies” for anyone involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. However, he also suggested that the DOJ would need strong evidence to pursue charges of incitement to violence against Mr. Trump.
“I’m unaware of any evidence that would suggest he meets that standard,” Mr. Crenshaw said. “So let’s see where it goes.”
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) joined other Republicans in criticizing the move.
“I don’t think it’s a mystery that every chance they get to go after the former president, presidential nominee, presidential front runner, they’re going to take it,” Mr. Hern said. “We’ve never seen so much done by the DOJ to target President Trump. So… I’m not shocked.
“All it’s doing is boosting his numbers,” Mr. Hern added.
“It’s absolute [expletive],” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
“The only way Democrats can defeat President Trump is by arresting him, smearing him, and charging him with ridiculous offenses—all to cover up Joe Biden’s and Hunter Biden’s crimes,” Ms. Greene said.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), with colleagues Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) (left), speaks at a press conference addressing the treatment of the Jan. 6 detainees at the D.C. jail in Washington on Dec. 7, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
“It’s unbelievable,” she added. “It’s hard to even recognize that this is our country. The American people are going to be furious. And what Jack Smith is doing is weaponizing government.”
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) agreed.
“Once again, the Department of Justice is playing politics, and I find it interesting that they are moving so quickly on all these but they ignore Hunter Biden,” Mr. Donalds said. “I don’t find it funny, I find it to be highly hypocritical. And that’s one of the major issues we’re having with the Department of Justice.”
Following the announcement, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) proposed legislation to defund Mr. Smith’s probe.
Richard Grenell, former director of national intelligence in the Trump administration, said, “I think it’s pretty obvious to the American people that the Biden administration is weaponized. I’ve seen every single government agency they can use to stop President Trump from running.”
Mr. Grenell expressed concerns that by targeting Mr. Trump, the United States is losing its moral authority to condemn such behavior in less developed nations.
‘No One Is Above the Law’
Democrats, on the other hand, are praising the increased legal action against Trump.
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), in a r
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