'Seriously hurting': Indictments force Trump's biggest backer in Wa. state to break up with him

Former President Donald Trump and his backers often argue that the indictments against him are not hurting him with core supporters — even claiming that they will drive more people to support him.

But at least one significant longtime Trump backer appears to have thrown in the towel the allegations, reportedThe Seattle Times on Wednesday: Seattle-area property developer Hossein Khorram.

"Khorram, 62, is one of the more gregarious behind-the-scenes players in local Republican politics. As a max donor and the finance chairman of 'Trump Victory Washington State,' he helped raised more than 10 million bucks here for Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign," reported Danny Westneat. "Khorram, a Muslim, also made himself widely available – including in this column, in 2019 – to cheerfully try to parry critiques that Trump is anti-immigrant or racist."

That has all changed now.

“Trump is way ahead in the polls, and is the candidate of the most emotion and the grassroots. But I would say the part of the GOP that is more keen on winning an election is kind of walking away from Trump,” Khorram told the Times. He added, “The indictments are having a bigger impact inside the party than you in the media may know. They’re seriously hurting him.”

Khorram said he'd still vote for whoever Republicans nominate, but is now gravitating toward Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — although he is mired badly behind Trump in the polls and has had a number of controversies of his own to deal with.

Trump continues to deny he has done anything illegal as he faces multiple indictments over allegedly cooking financial records to pay off an adult film star he's accused of having an affair with, and stashing highly classified documents in his Mar-a-Lago country club. He also is likely to be indicted in the federal January 6 investigation, with special counsel Jack Smith sending him a target letter this week.