GOP presidential candidates react to Trump indictment

Donald Trump: Reaction was mixed from Republican presidential candidates after the former president was indicted for a third time on Tuesday. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

Reactions from several Republican presidential candidates were mixed as news of a four-count indictment against former President Donald Trump was announced on Tuesday.

>> Read more trending news

The 45-page indictment accuses Trump of three conspiracies, claiming that he conspired to defraud the U.S., conspired to obstruct an official proceeding and conspired against people’s rights.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been running a distant second to Trump in the latest polls, said he had not read the indictment but criticized what he called β€œpoliticization of the rule of law.”

The second-term governor vowed to β€œend the weaponization of government, replace the FBI director, and ensure a single standard of justice for all Americans” if elected president, The Washington Post reported.

In a tweet, DeSantis said that β€œone of the reasons our country is in decline is the politicization of the rule of law.”

Former Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, who called for Trump to end his campaign before the indictments were handed down, called again for the former president to bow out of the race on Tuesday, The New York Times reported.

β€œThe latest indictment reaffirms my earlier call that Donald Trump should step away from the campaign for the good of the country,” Hutchinson said in a statement. β€œIf not, the voters must choose a different path.”

Republican Will Hurd of Texas tweeted that Trump’s campaign is β€œdriven by an attempt to stay out of prison and scam his supporters into footing his legal bills.”

β€œIt’s about time our party, including the 2024 candidates, wake up to the fact that this guy only cares about himself, not our country’s future,” he wrote.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy defended Trump, accusing that the β€œcorrupt federal police” was trying to β€œeliminate Trump.”

β€œIt is wrong and incorrect and inaccurate to place blame on what happened on January 6th at the feet of Donald Trump,” Ramaswamy said in a video statement.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served under Trump from 2017 to 2021 and is now seeking the 2024 Republican nomination, also issued a statement.

β€œToday’s indictment serves as an important reminder: Anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be president of the United States,” Pence said.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a vocal critic of Trump, called the events surrounding the White House in November 2020 β€œa stain on our country’s history.”

β€œThis disgrace falls the most on Donald Trump,” Christie tweeted. β€œHe swore an oath to the Constitution, violated his oath & brought shame to his presidency.”

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said he remained β€œconcerned” about the β€œweaponization of Biden’s DOJ” and its β€œimmense power used against political opponents.”

β€œWhat we see today are two different tracks of justice,” Scott tweeted. β€œOne for political opponents and another for the son of the current president.”

On Air680AM 104.9FM KKYX - Country Legends Logo