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While a number of Republican lawmakers rushed to comment on their disgust over the indictment of former President Donald Trump for his mishandling of classified documents, the far-right took a different route, diving into the deep end of hyperbole without a flotation device.
Male supremacist and racist Michael Cernovich was desperately triggered by the news, saying that it was like "the JFK assassination all over again." He later explained that it was the "deep state" that killed JFK and they did it with bullets. The Justice Department is doing it in the case with the law.
\u201cno i think that was a different thing\u201d— hannah gais (@hannah gais) 1686271027
White nationalist Stephen Miller appeared on the Fox network to say that the most important thing that must take place is that every Republican must rally around the former president. It's not know yet how opponents of Trump's in the 2024 race will respond to that.
\u201cMiller: I sure hope that the whole of the Republican party, the whole of the conservative movement, the whole of the country that cares about the rule of law coalesces around President Trump\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1686271100
Donald Trump's lawyer Alina Habba, who once referred to the New York attorney general as a "Black b---h," and would use the N-word regularly, also appeared on the Fox network. Speaking to Jesse Watters, she explained, "I'm embarrassed to be a lawyer at this moment. Honestly, I'm ashamed to be a lawyer."
Her comments come fewer than five months after she and Trump were forced to pay nearly $938,000 in penalties for a "frivolous lawsuit" against Hillary Clinton and 30 other defendants. The judge in the case said the lawsuits were "drafted to advance a political narrative" and should "never have been brought."
\u201cHabba: I'm embarrassed to be a lawyer at this moment. Honestly I'm ashamed to be a lawyer.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1686268451
Fox host Mark Levin ranted that the tens of millions of Trump supporters still exist. "You have crossed the Rubicon twice, which has never been done, and we will never forgive you. Never ever!"
The comment prompted MSNBC host Chris Hayes to correct that the Rubicon is all one river. "So that would mean you...crossed back over it in retreat?"
\u201cIt's the same river so that would mean you...crossed back over it in retreat?\u201d— Chris Hayes (@Chris Hayes) 1686275634
Former President Donald Trump immediately took to the internet to rage against the legal system after he was indicted on Thursday in the classified documents probe.
But he wasn't alone. Republican pundits and politicians also immediately reacted with white-hot fury over the news — many of whom made spurious accusations of President Joe Biden and argued he should be arrested as well.
"Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America," tweeted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). "It is unconscionable for a President to indict the leading candidate opposing him. 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."
"I never thought we’d see the day when the U.S. President deputizes the DOJ to arrest his lead rival in the middle of an election," tweeted Trump's presidential rival Vivek Ramaswamy. "Obama shamefully tried to deputize the FBI to infiltrate Trump’s 2016 campaign, but they’re leaving nothing to chance this time around: the federal police state is outright arresting Trump. This is an affront to every citizen: we cannot devolve into a banana republic where the party in power uses police force to arrest its political opponents. It’s hypocritical for the DOJ to selectively prosecute Trump but not Biden." Ramaswamy concluded with a vow to pardon the former president if elected.
"Sitting president indicts leading challenger. Totally normal," tweeted Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) along with a GIF of a line of banana-wielding dancers. "Joe Biden has used his Justice Department to go after parents as 'domestic terrorists,' to spy on Catholic parishes, to terrorize & harass prolife Christians - and tonight to indict his top political opponent, Trump. He has trampled the rule of law to benefit himself. He has led the country into profound danger," tweeted Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO).
GOP pundits, too, flew into a rage.
"I've given up trying to explain to the left why burning the world down to obtain justice is a bad idea," wrote right-wing blogger Erick Erickson. "I'll just say if Biden loses in 2024, he, Hunter, and many others better have lawyers asap. The Rubicon has been crossed. Guilt won't matter. The pain of litigation will."
Right-wing youth group leader Charlie Kirk, meanwhile, had a call to arms for Republican activists.
"Every 'Republican' running for President should suspend their campaign and go to Miami as a show of support," wrote Kirk. "If you don't, you are part of the problem. Either we have an opposition party or we don't. GO to Miami Tuesday, and show solidarty [sic] or we will mark you as part of the oppsition."
The former lead prosecutor for Robert Mueller, Andrew Weissmann, predicted that Donald Trump's indictment was coming "in days not weeks," and he was proved correct on Thursday.
His voice joined with many legal analysts who spoke out about the news. In one thread, Ryan Goodman quickly mentioned that a group of legal experts at JustSecurity outlined the specifics of the Espionage Act and how it would work with Trump.
One of the pieces of the story that Weissmann pointed out is that there are many lower-level, very young people who ultimately end up being prosecuted for mishandling classified information. It's for that reason that he felt Trump had to be indicted.
The Nation's legal analyst Elie Mystal agreed, responding to a rage tweet from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) claiming people in power shouldn't be able to prosecute their opponents, even if they broke the law.
"Actually, as I pointed out, if people in power can avoid jail by returning to power, we don’t have a republic. That’s literally how the most famous one died," said Mystal.
Legal analyst Brad Moss also commented with faux mockery: "If DOJ can indict Trump for willful retention of NDI and obstruction, they can indict ANYONE for willful retention of NDI and obstruction. The horror!"
Michigan University Law School Professor Barb McQuade cited New York Times reporting saying that the "charges include conspiracy to obstruct justice. Federal conspiracy law requires two or more people to constitute conspiracy."
She wondered, "Who is/are the co-conspirator(s)?"
Moss speculated it might be "Walt Nauta and maybe Boris are my guesses." But that information has not currently been released.
Florida attorney and attorney general candidate Daniel Uhlfelder tweeted simply: "Lock him up."
In that same vein, "Someone let Trump know the following: You’re going to prison, traitor," civil rights lawyer Andrew C. Laufer tweeted.
One of the things that Alabama University Law School Professor Joyce White Vance mentioned is the importance of cameras in the courtroom for the Trump trial.
"Chief Justice Roberts should immediately amend the rules to permit cameras in federal courts. The American public is entitled to watch the proceedings against Trump in their entirety. Anything less would be an injustice," she tweeted Thursday evening.
See Weissmann's commentary below or at the link.
Andrew Weissmann told you sowww.youtube.com
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