Current:Home > Contact-usHouse Speaker Mike Johnson defends Trump outside New York trial in GOP show of support-LoTradeCoin
House Speaker Mike Johnson defends Trump outside New York trial in GOP show of support
View Date:2024-12-24 09:54:14
Washington — House Speaker Mike Johnson joined Donald Trump at a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday to express support for the former president amid his criminal trial, which the speaker called a "sham" and part of a broader "partisan witch hunt" against Trump.
"President Trump is innocent of these charges," Johnson said, speaking outside the courthouse as proceedings got underway inside.
The Louisiana Republican was the latest in a number of GOP members of Congress who have shown their support for the former president at his New York trial in recent days. He said he came on his own accord to support Trump, whom he called a friend. Several other lawmakers also attended.
The speaker has emphasized his closeness to Trump in recent weeks as he faced a challenge to his speakership from a handful of conservatives within his conference. And the former president came to his aid when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene brought up a snap vote to oust Johnson, offering his support for the speaker in a social media post.
Johnson claimed on Tuesday that the trial is meant to "keep him [Trump] off the campaign trial." He said that as a former litigator, he's "disgusted" by what is happening to Trump.
"The people are losing faith right now in this country, in our institutions," he said. "They're losing faith in our system of justice. And the reason for that is because they see it being abused as it is being done here in New York."
Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to reimbursements for a "hush money" payment to an adult film star before the 2016 election. He has pleaded not guilty.
The speaker argued that the charges were intentionally brought ahead of Trump's campaign to return to office, calling the effort a "ridiculous persecution that is not about justice" but "all about politics."
"It's impossible for anybody to deny that looks at this objectively that the judicial system in our country has been weaponized against President Trump," Johnson said.
The remarks marked a stunning moment with the House speaker, who's second in line to the presidency, calling the integrity of the judicial system into question.
Along with Johnson, Gov. Doug Burgum, Vivek Ramaswamy and Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills of Florida were also in attendance on Tuesday.
"I do have a lot of surrogates and they are speaking very beautifully," Trump said Tuesday morning before entering the courtroom. "They come from all over Washington, and they're highly respected and they think this is the biggest scam they've ever seen."
Fin Gómez, Olivia Rinaldi and Kelsey Walsh contributed reporting.
Kaia HubbardKaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital based in Washington, D.C.
TwitterveryGood! (96182)
Related
- Louisiana House greenlights Gov. Jeff Landry’s tax cuts
- Elizabeth Hurley says she 'felt comfortable' filming sex scene directed by son Damian Hurley
- Lawsuit asks judge to disqualify ballot measure that seeks to repeal Alaska’s ranked voting system
- Texas emergency management chief believes the state needs its own firefighting aircraft
- Fantasy football Week 11: Trade value chart and rest of season rankings
- Should you itemize or take a standard deduction on your tax return? Here’s what to know
- 'Parasyte: The Grey': Premiere date, cast, where to watch creepy new zombie K-Drama
- Iowa repeals gender parity rule for governing bodies as diversity policies garner growing opposition
- 'I heard it and felt it': Chemical facility explosion leaves 11 hospitalized in Louisville
- Small Nuclear Reactors May Be Coming to Texas, Boosted by Interest From Gov. Abbott
Ranking
- Target will be closed on Thanksgiving: Here’s when stores open on Black Friday
- WWE WrestleMania 40 details: Time, how to watch, match card and more
- Palestinian American doctor explains why he walked out of meeting with Biden and Harris
- Biden touts inhaler price drops with Bernie Sanders: Finally, finally we beat big Pharma
- Jerry Jones lashes out at question about sun's glare at AT&T Stadium after Cowboys' loss
- Judge rejects Donald Trump’s request to delay hush-money trial until Supreme Court rules on immunity
- WWE WrestleMania 40 details: Time, how to watch, match card and more
- Why Anna Paquin Is Walking With a Cane During Red Carpet Date Night With Husband Stephen Moyer
Recommendation
-
High-scoring night in NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo explodes for 59, Victor Wembanyama for 50
-
Proof Brenda Song Is Living the Suite Life on Vacation With Macaulay Culkin
-
'9-1-1' stars Angela Bassett, Jennifer Love Hewitt can't believe the 'crazy' 100th episode
-
Don't touch the alien-like creatures: What to know about the caterpillars all over Florida
-
Northern Taurid meteor shower hits peak activity this week: When and where to watch
-
In new movie 'Monkey Man,' Dev Patel got physical. He has the broken bones to prove it.
-
Here’s Everything You Need To Build Your Dream Spring Capsule Wardrobe, According to a Shopping Editor
-
Owner of Baffert-trained Muth sues Churchill Downs seeking to allow horse to run in Kentucky Derby