GOP Senate leaders privately think 'it's not worth defending the former president': CNN reporter
As former President Donald Trump prepares for criminal proceedings against him on seven federal charges stemming from the classified documents investigation, Republicans have howled with outrage, echoing the former president's claims he is being persecuted.
However, despite a few Senate Republicans publicly attacking the indictment, GOP Senate leadership, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), have been conspicuously quiet. Speaking to CNN on Friday, congressional reporter Lauren Fox explained why.
"I'm going to put you on the spot here, and transfer our six-year running congress nerd text chain back and forth on to television," said anchor Phil Mattingly. "Senate Republican leadership has not said anything. I am neither surprised by that fact, nor do I think you are. Take people behind the scenes. Why?"
"I mean, the relationship with Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump is nonexistent, right, and has been since the insurrection on January 6th," said Fox. "That is part of the reason why we haven't seen a response from Mitch McConnell, although I do think there's something to be said about people wanting more information."
McConnell isn't alone, though, Fox noted — for instance, Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) has also not offered any public comment on the matter yet either.
"The reality is that many Senate Republicans would like to move on beyond Donald Trump," said Fox. "They don't want to be involved in the day-to-day nitty-gritty responding to everything that the former president does. Obviously, they are going to have to respond when they return to Washington next week. This is going to be the first question at a Republican press conference on Tuesday that lawmakers hold, but there is a reason that they are holding back, and part of that is they believe that it's just not worth defending the former president."
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