Republican officials today criticized the “political” prosecution of Donald Trump, who could become the first former US president to face charges, with Democrats worried about the billionaire’s appeal to supporters. them to demonstrate.

The possibility of criminal charges against Trump suddenly became a reality after he was called to testify in the case of Stormy Daniels, which is being investigated by the New York district attorney’s office. The Republican former president allegedly gave money to this adult film actress in 2016 to keep their relationship from being revealed.

Last Saturday, Trump, who is running again for the presidency in the 2024 elections, said that on Tuesday “he will be arrested” and called on his supporters to “save America” ​​and “demonstrate”.

Several Republicans then rushed to his defense, led by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who denounced New York State’s Attorney for Manhattan Alvin Bragg for “abuse of power.”

Even former Vice President Mike Pence, who distanced himself from Trump after storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021, expressed his support for the Republican.

The prosecutions are “politically motivated”, estimated the former right hand of Trump, who also has ambitions for 2024 so he takes care of his image. He said he was “confused” at the idea that a former president could be prosecuted by this prosecutor, “at a time when a crime wave” is sweeping New York.

“Americans have a constitutional right to peacefully assemble,” Pence said.

Democrats, for their part, called Pence’s defense irresponsible.

The former US vice president put “his own ambitions above the public interest” by “complaining against potential sanctions against Trump and defending the call for protests,” tweeted Adam Schiff, a former member of the congressional committee that investigated the attack on the Capitol.

“Security Challenge”

“There is no reason for a demonstration,” noted Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren today. “Justice acts as it should, without fear or privilege for anyone.”

Yesterday Saturday, the former president of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, called Trump’s appeal “dangerous”.

“It’s going to be important for law enforcement to watch these protests and make sure they don’t escalate to the level of violence” of Jan. 6, Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly said today, expressing concern over the situation.

Several U.S. media outlets have reported that local and federal authorities are preparing for possible indictments against Trump, which will prove a security challenge should demonstrations take place in front of the court, whether by supporters or opponents of the former president.

A possible indictment, unprecedented for a former president, will inevitably cause a political explosion and mark the campaign for the 2024 presidential election.

Although, according to American journalists, the former occupant of the White House fears possible arrest, the criminal charges may benefit him by rallying his base.

“The New York district attorney is doing more to help Donald Trump get elected president than anyone else in the United States today,” Senator Lindsey Graham said yesterday, calling the prosecutions “selective.”

Criminal charges “will create a lot of sympathy for the former president,” said Republican New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who predicted “a political circus.”

The prosecution’s investigation involves paying $130,000 to Stormy Daniels — whose real name is Stephanie Clifford — to not reveal her relationship with Trump. He allegedly received this money in 2016, shortly before the presidential election, in which the Republican won.

New York prosecutors believe it was a bribe to influence the outcome of the presidential election by concealing embarrassing information about Trump, and thus a hidden donation to the president’s campaign, in violation of campaign finance laws.