Former President Donald Trump’s second arraignment took place this week, with small crowds of supporters gathering outside the courthouse alongside hundreds of reporters from around the world. Federal and local authorities were on high alert ahead of Trump’s court appearance, as some of his allies called for protests and retribution, alluding to potential violence. Despite this, the demonstrations remained peaceful, and only a few hundred supporters showed up to the courthouse throughout the day.
The Economist/YouGov poll suggests that Republicans are not as quick to defend the former president over the classified-documents case as they have been with his previous legal woes. The poll found that 56% of Republicans and 91% of Democrats believe that a president taking classified documents after leaving office is a very or somewhat serious matter. Last August, 53% of Republicans approved of Trump taking the records. Now, that number has fallen to just 39%.
Trump ultimately pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts in connection with his alleged mishandling of classified documents. Those counts include willful retention of national-defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheme to conceal, and making false statements and representations.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr shared a similar sentiment on Sunday, saying that “if even half of it is true, then he’s toast.” He called the idea of Trump presenting himself as a victim of a witch hunt “ridiculous.”
The indictment has turned into another fundraising and campaigning opportunity for Trump, and another test for the rest of the 2024 Republican field. Vivek Ramaswamy has led the charge, insisting in a rally outside the Miami courthouse yesterday that Republican presidential contenders must sign a pledge to pardon Trump in the event he is convicted, or to explain why they will not.
Nikki Haley said yesterday she’d be “inclined in favor of a pardon” for Trump if he were convicted, saying the issue is “less about guilt and more about what’s good for the country.” But she acknowledged that “if the claims in the indictment are true — if they’re true — then Trump was incredibly reckless with our national security, and that’s not OK.”
While Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has remained largely quiet throughout Trump’s second indictment, at least one other Republican candidate, Asa Hutchinson, has called on the former president to drop out of the race. Trump, meanwhile, has vowed to “never leave” the race.
