Republican senators Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) recently declined to say whether they would support former President Donald Trump if a Manhattan jury convicts him.
Trump faces 34 charges of improper business records and could face prison time.
CNN’s Manu Raju asked mainstream Republican senators whether they would support Trump if he was convicted.
Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota) Wish As for whether he would replace the outgoing McConnell as minority leader, he said it would depend on circumstances, but there were no guarantees. “We’ll see how the trial goes. I’m not considering that,” he said.
Thune released a statement to Breitbart News, providing background to the statement to CNN: “No matter what happens in this politically motivated trial, no one, including me, will change their mind. We are working with President Trump and his team to put an end to the dangerous Biden v. Schumer agenda,” he said.
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who recently tried to push the amnesty bill through the Senate, had no intention of endorsing Trump.
“I want to have people who are role models and leaders and all of those things,” he said. “Policy issues are going to be very important to me.”
Trump could be found innocent or guilty as soon as this week. If he is found guilty, will you support him? Thune: “We’ll see how the trial goes. I’m not going to say anything on that point.”
Lankford said he would do so because ultimately it is a matter of policy. “I want to secure people who can fill the role… pic.twitter.com/FLUMfX7kKd
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) May 20, 2024
Thune and Lankford stand in contrast to many Republican lawmakers who have vigorously defended Trump against charges that many legal commentators say are baseless.
These include:
Trump’s defense wrapped up its arguments on Tuesday, and the jury will likely reach a verdict on Wednesday, May 29, the Associated Press reported.
Jurors were asked to stay home until May 28, when closing arguments are scheduled to be made, but lawyers are due to return to court later Tuesday to discuss how the judge will instruct the jury on a verdict. Trump, the first former US president to face a criminal trial, did not stop to speak as he left the courtroom and ignored questions about why he would not testify. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee had previously said he would take the stand to defend himself against charges he claims were politically motivated.
…
After the defense finished its arguments, Judge Juan M. Marchan told jurors the courtroom could continue until late Tuesday to consider briefs from both the prosecution and defense. It will be the last time the jury has a chance to hear arguments from both sides. Marchan told jurors he expects his verdict instructions to take about an hour, after which they could begin to argue the case as early as May 29 next year. Jurors had previously been told not to discuss the case with anyone outside the courtroom or among themselves.
Machan said wrap-up statements are usually held as soon as the defense finishes their arguments, but in this case he expects wrap-up statements to take at least a day, given the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. He pointed out that it would be “impossible to do everything that is needed” by then.
.Donald TrumpThis would set a disastrous precedent for the American justice system.
If they have the platform, the hundreds of millions of followers, and the ability to fight and do this to Donald Trump, they will do it to anyone.
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 21, 2024
Editor’s note: This story was updated after publication to add comment from Sen. John Thune.
Wendell Husebo is a political reporter for Breitbart News and a former Republican war room analyst. politics of slave morality. Follow Wendell “Bat” @WendellHusebø or The truth of society @WendellHusebo.
