Ahead of former President Donald Trump’s possible arrest (which is expected to take place on Tuesday), some Republican Party officials have come to the defense of the former president, including Mike Pence, who served in the Trump administration as vice-president. .
On Saturday, Trump told Truth Social he was due for arrest Tuesday in a case filed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and urged his supporters to protest.
“Another political lawsuit has begun,” Pence told ABC on Sunday, while admitting he couldn’t “talk to the merits” of the case.
The case involves an illegal $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels made by former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Daniels (real name is Stephanie Clifford) claims she had a brief intimate relationship with Trump ten years ago and was paid to keep quiet. Trump denies it.
If Trump is indicted in the case, “it would be yet another wrongdoing by a man who is known for declaring his intent to destroy the entire political system,” commented Washington-based trial attorney Bradley Moss. . related to national security.
If Trump faces criminal charges, it would be the first time in US history that an ex-president has been arrested.
“The fact that a former US president could be indicted within hours or days is absolutely unprecedented,” said David B. Cohen, a political science professor who studies the history of presidential institutions at the University of Akron. . “There is a long history in the country of very powerful people who avoid accountability for their actions, and this could be a situation that will undermine the views of many who express their disbelief that there are two systems of different justices.”
Both Moss and Cohen point out that Richard Nixon, who resigned from the presidency in 1974 following the Watergate scandal and was later pardoned by his successor Gerald Ford, is the only former US president to face such a level of responsibility. possible legal similar to that of Trump.
Pundits also commented on the implications of Trump’s possible arrest for the 2024 presidential election.
“Trump leads the race for the Republican nomination”, notes David B. Cohen. “If he stays out of jail and keeps running, I think he will absolutely become the Republican nominee.”
Others believe the filing of indictments against Trump will introduce an element of unpredictability into the presidential race.
“No one knows what impact this will have on the 2024 (presidential) election. Everyone is making unthinkable assumptions because we’ve never had a similar situation,” Moss said in an interview with media. is completely new territory.”
Trump is expected to face several prominent Republicans in the 2024 presidential election, including Pence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and others including former UN ambassador Nikki Haley.
