Senate Conservatives Draw Red Line After Trump’s Guilt

A conservative faction of Republican senators on Friday promised to place more hurdles in front of President Joe Biden and Democratic priorities as retribution for former President Donald Trump’s criminal conviction.

The vow came a day after Trump’s 34-count felony conviction by a jury in his New York hush money trial, which the GOP senators claimed was a result of the White House targeting a political opponent.

“The White House has made a mockery of the rule of law and fundamentally altered our politics in un-American ways,” reads a joint letter, led by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT). “As a Senate Republican conference, we are unwilling to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear this country apart.”

The Biden administration was not involved in Trump’s case. It was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, and prosecuted by his office.

In his first comments since the verdict, Biden on Friday blasted those who seek to dismiss the felony conviction as a result of politics.

“It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, and it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict,” Biden said from the White House.

While the conservative senators rarely, if ever, vote in favor of Biden nominees or in line with Democrats, any one member has the ability to grind the Senate’s proceedings to a crawl in a chamber that largely runs procedurally on unanimous consent agreements. The warning is designed to be a rallying cry for other Republican senators to band together and act as a wall of opposition to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

“Strongly worded statements are not enough,” Lee said. “Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable. We are no longer cooperating with any Democrat legislative priorities or nominations, and we invite all concerned senators to join our stand.”

The pledge was also signed by Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), J.D. Vance (R-OH), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Marco Rubio (R-FL).

Vance and Rubio are considered Trump vice presidential contenders, and Scott is running to be Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) successor as Senate GOP leader.

The group’s three-pronged pledge was to wield what power they have to prevent or delay:

• “Any increase to non-security related funding for this administration, or any appropriations bill which funds partisan lawfare.”
• “Vote to confirm this administration’s political and judicial appointees.”
• “Allow expedited consideration and passage of Democrat legislation or authorities that are not directly relevant to the safety of the American people.”

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Scott, who is also up for reelection, was criticized by his Democratic opponent, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, for prioritizing “partisan political games over the very Floridians he was elected to represent.” The former congresswoman suggested the pledge could threaten future Federal Emergency Management Agency funding as the Sunshine State heads into hurricane season.