Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) strongly criticized the hush money trial involving former President Trump during his remarks outside the Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday. In a significant move, he became the highest-ranking lawmaker to visit Trump in New York amidst the ongoing legal proceedings.
Johnson, who stood beside Trump in the courthouse hallway before delivering a statement outside, criticized the case against the former president as an act of “election interference.” He argued that prosecutors are attempting to prevent Trump from participating in the campaign trail during his race against President Biden.
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“This sham of a trial has kept President Trump in court for five weeks now,” Johnson remarked. He further added, “It seems clear to everyone in the country that this is a deliberate attempt to keep him away from the campaign trail.”
He later declared that President Trump is innocent of these charges.
GOP lawmakers have been gathering around the former president as he remains confined within the Manhattan courtroom for the duration of the hush money trial, which occupies most of the week. Reps. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Cory Mills (R-Fla.) were also spotted alongside Trump at the courthouse on Tuesday.
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) made their way to New York on Monday to show their support for Trump. Outside the courthouse, they shared similar remarks.
Johnson’s appearance alongside Trump during his trial is significant as it demonstrates the unwavering support of the House GOP conference for the former president, despite his ongoing legal challenges.
Speaker Mike Johnson is seen speaking to the press near the Manhattan criminal court where the trial of former President Trump is currently underway on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
The Speaker displayed his support in less than a week following the House’s successful rejection of a move led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to remove him from his position. A vast majority of Republicans voted to dismiss Greene’s attempt, safeguarding the Speaker from a conservative uprising. This outcome was partially credited to Trump’s public backing of Johnson.
During his own political turmoil, Johnson made a trip to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago last month. It was during this visit that Trump expressed his support for the Speaker, stating, “I stand with the Speaker.” Trump continued to back the Louisiana Republican on multiple occasions and even took to social media to encourage Republicans to vote against the motion to remove the Speaker. However, it is worth noting that Trump’s post on Truth Social was published after the vote had already taken place.
In a statement to reporters, Johnson expressed his voluntary attendance at Trump’s trial on Tuesday, emphasizing his personal connection with the former president, whom he referred to as a “friend.”
“I personally reached out to President Trump and expressed my desire to be present here to denounce what is undeniably an injustice. I believe people across the nation can clearly see this,” Johnson expressed. “President Trump is someone I consider a friend, and it was important for me to show my support by being here.”
Later, he added, “I came here, once again, today on my own to show my support for President Trump because I am just one of the countless millions of people who are deeply concerned about this.”
During the trial, Johnson made his appearance at a crucial moment when Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer and the prosecution’s key witness, was testifying for the second day. Following the lead of his Republican counterparts, Johnson focused on discrediting Cohen as a reliable witness.
Johnson accused the man of being driven by personal revenge and criticized his reputation for being an unreliable witness.
“He has a history of perjury and is well-known for it. We shouldn’t believe a word he says today,” he added.
Donald Trump faces 34 charges of falsifying business records related to reimbursements made to Michael Cohen. Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, had paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about her alleged affair with Trump in the lead-up to the 2016 election. Trump maintains his innocence and denies the affair.
Trump is currently restricted by a gag order that prevents him from making any negative comments about the witnesses, jurors, prosecutors, court staff, or the judge’s family. However, this order does not prohibit him from discussing the judge responsible for overseeing the case or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D).
Johnson criticized the gag order, calling it “ridiculous and unprecedented.” He argued that it infringes upon Trump’s constitutional right to defend himself against political smears, especially during a crucial period.
The gag order was subsequently upheld by an appeals court on Tuesday.
The Speaker also criticized other legal cases involving Trump, including the federal investigation into the former president’s possession of classified documents. Earlier this month, Judge Aileen Cannon indefinitely postponed that case, which is being conducted by special counsel Jack Smith.
According to Johnson, the hush money trial has been a partisan witch hunt that has dragged on for years. He also mentioned that the classified documents case has faced similar issues, with the trial being indefinitely postponed due to its egregious nature.
Johnson stated that he, along with House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), is actively collaborating on strategies to curb the misconduct of special counsel Jack Smith.
According to him, in Congress, they hold the oversight responsibility and it is their objective and duty to ensure accountability. He strongly believes that these trials are politically motivated and considers them a disgrace. He views them as a form of election interference and a reflection of the desperation of President Trump’s opposition.
“The American people will not tolerate this,” he asserted. “We eagerly await Election Day, and in the meantime, we will diligently address these issues in Congress, as it is our duty under the Constitution.”
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