Republican New York congressional candidate Maji Pilip said Tuesday that she will not support former President Donald Trump in November if he is convicted by Election Day.
Pilip, who is running a close race against former Democratic congressman Tom Suozzi in a special election to replace George Santos, made the comments at the PIX11 candidate forum ahead of next month’s election.
“No one is above the law,” said the Ethiopian-born Nassau County councilman.
“If he is convicted, he cannot represent us.”
Trump, 77, faces 91 charges in four criminal cases, and if convicted on all counts, he faces up to 712 years and six months in prison.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has insisted that the indictments brought against him by state and federal grand juries last year were part of a “witch hunt” aimed at keeping him out of the Oval Office. He also strongly denies any wrongdoing.
Mr. Pillip said Mr. Trump has not yet been convicted and if this situation continues in November, he would support Mr. Trump’s candidacy.
“Unless you see that. [a conviction]For now, if he is the candidate, I will support him,” the mother of seven said.
Pillip also praised President Trump’s performance during his first term, claiming he was a “great president.”
“He was a great candidate and a great president. He’s done great things for America,” she said. “He improved our economy. He brought a lot of peace processes to the Middle East. He was very strong at the international level.”
Pilip, a former paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces, added: “If he becomes president, I will work hard with him.”
Mr. Suozzi has the support of 45% of registered voters in the 3rd Congressional District, based in Nassau County and eastern Queens, while Mr. Pilip has the support of 42%, according to a recent survey from Emerson College and PIX11. There is.
The special election will be held on February 13th, and early voting begins on February 3rd.
