Republicans oppose 'political prosecution', Democrats fear chaos

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Mar 2023 23:52

No plans for an indictment were confirmed by the Manhattan District attorney's Office, despite multiple signs otherwise.

US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, US, January 20, 2021. (Reuters)

Senior Republicans echoed former US President Donald Trump's claim that political "persecution" is to come, while Democrats worry that his call for protests could trigger chaos similar to the US January 6 riots.

On Saturday, the former President said he expected to be "arrested" on Tuesday in connection with a grand jury investigating a 2016 payment he had done to an adult star, to who he allegedly paid hush money, in order to prevent her from announcing a past affair she had had with Trump.

"I'm taken aback at the idea of indicting a former president of the United States at a time when there's a crime wave in New York City," Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence said on ABC's This Week.

"It just feels like a politically charged prosecution here," said Pence. "I just feel like it's just not what the American people want to see."

No plans for an indictment were confirmed by the Manhattan District attorney's Office, despite multiple signs, including the recent appearances before the grand jury for Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, the adult star.

Trump denied any involvement with Daniels. However, law enforcement agencies are on edge for a possible indictment. If the arrest does take place, chaos will erupt outside the Manhattan Criminal Court.

A sympathy campaign for Trump?

The possibility of a former president being arrested would be a historic first. The arrest would spark uncertainty in his 2024 campaign.

A vocal supporter of the former President, Lindsey Graham, called a possible indictment "an effort that's ongoing, never-ending to destroy Donald Trump, everything around Donald Trump."

An outspoken Trump critic and potential campaign rival, Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, also expressed that an indictment could possibly generate a powerful backlash.

"I think it's building a lot of sympathy for the former president," he told CNN Sunday talk show State of the Union.

"It does drastically change the paradigm, as we go into the '24 election," he said, adding that in the event of a possible indictment, "It's going to be a circus."

Pense, Sununu, and other Republicans defended the people's right to protest any legal action against Trump but insisted it is done peacefully.

Marc Short, Pence's former chief of staff told CNN that "trying to encourage protests in the shadow of January 6th is reckless."

Trump's call could cause violence

Democrats expressed their concerns about Trump's call for his followers to protest and take their nation back, bringing flashbacks of the riots which took place on January 6, 2021, as it could provoke violence.

On Saturday, former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Trump's announcement "reckless", accusing him of trying to create unrest among his supporters.

Democrat Mark Kelly also recalled being in the Senate Chamber on January 6 when they had to seek shelter after Trump urged protests that unleashed life-threatening unrest.

"I think it's going to be important for law enforcement to pay attention to protests and make sure it doesn't rise to the level of violence" seen at the Capitol two years ago, Kelly said on CNN.

Security agencies are prepared for possible protests outside the courthouse. However, the staff on Saturday will not tolerate threats against them.