Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) blasted Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Tuesday over his criminal probe into former President Donald Trump, which could lead to the former president getting indicted.
“A Trump indictment would be a disgusting abuse of power. The DA should be put in jail,” Paul posted on Twitter Tuesday.
A Trump indictment would be a disgusting abuse of power. The DA should be put in jail.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 21, 2023
Paul was one of numerous GOP members who attacked Bragg, accusing him of launching a politically motivated investigation into Trump over a supposed hush money payment sent to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in hopes of keeping her quiet about an alleged affair in 2006.
Trump previously announced he would be arrested on Tuesday, urging his supporters to come out and protest on his behalf.
ONE protester named Laurie & about 50 journalists waiting for #TrumpIndictment in front of Manhattan Criminal Court
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Barricades resting against the walls ) pic.twitter.com/eXW68fDNBM— Lenka Houskova White (@white_lenka) March 20, 2023
OANN reported that in response to Trump’s call, the Manhattan Criminal Court placed barricades around the property to deter protestors.
Other Republicans also expressed their opposition to the alleged planned arrest, including Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence, who opined that the prosecution feels like it is “politically charged.”
Meanwhile, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) penned a letter to the Democrat Manhattan DA on Monday, saying his plans to indict Trump mark “an unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority.”
While the two did not call for Bragg to be locked up as Paul had, they did request the prosecutor turn over documents and offer testimony regarding “what plainly appears to be a politically motivated” prosecution of the former president.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) also commented on Bragg’s conduct, although arguably less forcefully than some other conservatives had. While he did say that Bragg is a “[George] Soros-funded prosecutor” who is utilizing the DA’s office to “impose a political agenda,” DeSantis made a point to mention he would not involve himself in “any way.”
“He, like other Soros-funded prosecutors, they weaponize their office to impose a political agenda on society at the expense of the rule of law and public safety,” DeSantis told reporters at a Monday news conference.
The governor’s comments, particularly the bit about not wanting to get involved, angered many supporters of Donald Trump.
Paul’s remarks about throwing Bragg in jail are not the first time he has put a spotlight on the Manhattan DA. In July 2022, he shared a news report about Bragg’s choice to go easy on a 16-year-old with three prior felony arrests after he allegedly assaulted a cop during a confrontation over stealing a ride on the metro.
“Democrat DA allows a violent attack on a cop to go unpunished…” Paul wrote at the time.
Democrat DA allows a violent attack on a cop to go unpunished…https://t.co/48CqbKpqf4
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 29, 2022
