Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) denounced the "weaponization" of the justice system after former President Donald Trump, his chief 2024 rival, was indicted over efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and actions regarding the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
"As President, I will end the weaponization of government, replace the FBI Director, and ensure a single standard of justice for all Americans," DeSantis wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "While I’ve seen reports, I have not read the indictment. I do, though, believe we need to enact reforms so that Americans have the right to remove cases from Washington, DC to their home districts."
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Trump faces one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, one count of obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and one count of conspiracy against rights, according to the 45-page indictment. He was previously indicted in April by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over allegations of a hush money payment scheme to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election cycle. Then in June, special counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump over allegations he mishandled classified documents after leaving office.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all previous charges. He is scheduled to be arraigned in the latest case on Friday.
Although DeSantis and Trump remain bitter foes in the GOP primary race, DeSantis has often implicitly supported Trump against his increasing legal woes, which he again reiterated on Tuesday. "Washington, DC is a 'swamp' and it is unfair to have to stand trial before a jury that is reflective of the swamp mentality," DeSantis continued. "One of the reasons our country is in decline is the politicization of the rule of law. No more excuses — I will end the weaponization of the federal government."
As President, I will end the weaponization of government, replace the FBI Director, and ensure a single standard of justice for all Americans.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) August 1, 2023
While I’ve seen reports, I have not read the indictment. I do, though, believe we need to enact reforms so that Americans have the right…
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DeSantis signaled last week during an interview with journalist Megyn Kelly that if he were elected president, he would pardon Trump. "I don't think it would be good for the country to have an almost 80-year-old former president go to prison," DeSantis said before suggesting that the GOP needed to move beyond the past.
"Would you commit to pardoning" Trump, asks @MegynKelly.
— The Megyn Kelly Show (@MegynKellyShow) July 28, 2023
"I don't think it would be good for the country to have an almost 80-year-old former president go to prison," says Gov. @RonDeSantis.
FULL 50-minute interview airs tomorrow at NoonET. Subscribe:https://t.co/Y12z2uKGMb pic.twitter.com/2geQDBcsN2
The governor has consistently trailed Trump, the front-runner to become the GOP's next standard-bearer, in national polls. A Morning Consult poll on Tuesday showed Trump leading DeSantis, 58% to 15%, a 43 percentage point gap and a new low for DeSantis since the survey started tracking Republican primary voters in December.