Former President Donald Trump will speak to a packed house of over 2,200 Alabama Republicans in Montgomery on Friday. The former President, however, is scheduled to appear in a Washington, D.C. courtroom on Thursday afternoon to answer charges that he used “unlawful means” in an attempt to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election and maintain power.
Trump will be arraigned on an indictment charging him with conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction; and conspiracy against the right to vote and to have one’s vote counted.
He is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya at the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse around 3:00 p.m. CDT.
The reaction by Alabama leaders to the news was mixed.
Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06) released a statement slamming the latest indictments.
“The latest indictment appears to be an even greater stretch of the law in an effort to destroy Donald Trump,” said Rep. Palmer. “Much of this indictment centers on statements made by President Trump on January 6th that create legal problems for the prosecution in regard to free speech. Regardless of any opinions about President Trump or his statements about the outcome of the 2020 election, President Trump’s statements are protected by the First Amendment right to free speech, especially political speech.”
“As some legal experts have already pointed out, this is criminalization of disinformation and misinformation which raises serious concerns about the public’s right to speak openly in opposition to policies they oppose,” Palmer continued. “This is especially troublesome in view of the Biden Administration’s aborted attempt to establish a bureau of disinformation that many believe would have been weaponized against the political opponents of President Biden and the Democratic Party. Consequently, this indictment falls short of the criminal legal standard for charging anyone and has the appearance of indicting political speech.”
Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) said that on social media that the indictment shows that no one is above the law.
“Today’s indictment shows that no one is above the law,” said Rep. Sewell. “We are seeing the political process play out, and though we do not know the outcome, all parties who are involved in one of the darkest days in our nation’s history must be held accountable.”
Former Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL05), who led the floor fight in the House of Representatives to overturn the electoral college results, is more critical of the former President.
Brooks said on Twitter, “In early 2022, #DonaldTrump demanded I publicly support:
1. Rescinding 2020 election.
2. Physically removing Biden from White House.
3. Putting Trump back into White House.
4. America conducting a special presidential election.
ALL violate Constitution &/or federal statutes.”
Brooks said, “@Mike_Pence is right. A candidate who puts self above US Constitution should NEVER be GOP nominee.
When #DonaldTrump told me to support violating Constitution & federal statutes, I refused.
So Trump “unendorsed” me & endorsed #KatieBritt.
So be it.”
Brooks lost the 2022 Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate to first-time candidate Katie Britt – who is now Alabama’s junior Senator.
Brooks shared a link to a story about former Vice President Mike Pence criticizing Trump and his legal team.
This is the third round of indictments against Trump, but likely not the last. The legal woes that have already cost his campaign over $40 million have not hurt him with Republican primary voters. He is dominating Pence and his other GOP rivals in early polling.
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