Some of former President Donald Trump’s biggest critics in the Democratic Party commented on his historic indictment just minutes after he was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury Thursday night.
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee and a vocal opponent of Trump when he was in office, responded with glee on Twitter.
“SO Trump has finally been impeached! I predicted he would, and I predicted Stormy Daniels would get it! Sometimes justice works!” Waters wrote.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the former head of the House Intelligence Committee and a leading Democrat in Trump’s first impeachment trial, described the moment as “sobering” but said he believes justice has been done.
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Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., hailed Trump’s impeachment Thursday. (Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
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“The indictment by the Manhattan Attorney’s Office of former President Donald J. Trump for his alleged involvement in a campaign fraud and hush-money scheme that has already landed his former attorney, Michael Cohen, in prison is a sobering and unprecedented development,” Schiff said in a statement Fox News Digital. “But when justice requires that Michael Cohen go to prison for a plan directed by someone else, justice also requires that the person responsible for directing the plan answer to their violations of the law — and that person is Donald Trump.”
“The indictment and arrest of a former President is unique in all of American history. But so is the wrongful conduct for which Trump has been charged and the even more serious wrongdoing for which he is currently being investigated by a Department of Justice special counsel and the Fulton County District Attorney,” he added.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who frequently feuded with Trump during his tenure, both released relatively muted statements hours after Trump’s indictment broke.
“The grand jury acted on the basis of the facts and the law. No one is above the law and everyone has the right to a trial to prove their innocence. Hopefully the former president will peacefully respect the system that gives him that right,” Pelosi said.
Schumer wrote: “Mr. Trump is subject to the same laws as any American. He will use the legal system and a jury, not politics, to determine his fate according to the facts and the law. There should be no political interference, intimidation or outside interference in the case. I encourage both critics and supporters of Mr. Trump to let the trial proceed peacefully and in accordance with the law.”
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., urged Americans to remain neutral to deviate from his normally outspoken criticism of the right.
Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, the first former president to be charged with a crime. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
“The impeachment of a former president is a dark day for America. It is also a time to have faith in our justice system. Donald Trump deserves every protection the Constitution affords him. As this unfolds, let us neither celebrate nor destroy. Justice benefits us all,” the lawmaker said on Twitter.
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., called for a similar approach, noting that even the ex-president’s harshest critics are wary of the historic news.
“The indictment of a former president sets a terrible precedent; the only precedent that is worse is not charging Donald Trump when there is evidence that he committed crimes. This is a somber moment for America. We should let the judicial system do its job without interference,” Lieu said Thursday night.
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Sen. Cory Booker, DN.J., stressed that Trump has the same rights to due process as any American citizen.
“This charge is not a trivial matter. A grand jury of ordinary citizens has ruled that there is sufficient evidence to charge President Trump with a crime,” the senator said. “Like any person charged with a serious crime, the former President has a due process. He will have the opportunity to defend himself in court before a jury of his own kind.”
Trump is said to have been charged in an investigation related to hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal totaling $130,000 and $150,000, respectively.
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Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., called the historic event “sobering.” (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
He is also being investigated by prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, on allegations of electoral interference in that state and is the subject of two federal investigations under the jurisdiction of Special Counsel Jack Smith.
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Progressive “Squad” member Rep. Jamaal Bowman, DN.Y., condemned Republican attacks on Bragg as “racist” and demanded that Trump never be allowed to hold public office again.
“Being charged with falsifying business records with hush money is just the beginning of being held accountable for your crimes. Trump tried to illegally overturn the Georgia election results and worked to incite the Capitol riot, both in an effort to overthrow our government to further his fascist cause. His continued calls for protests after his arrest are just another dog whistle for his supporters: Destroy our democracy,” Bowman said.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a news conference in New York September 8, 2022. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Republicans will continue to claim that this was a political arrest, but they can no longer hide behind their lies, misinformation and racist attacks on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. It’s time we ensure Trump is banned from running for public office again and from there finally take action to fix our democracy,” he added.
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Fellow Squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., pointed out, “This is just one of many criminal acts for which Donald Trump is under investigation.”
“Our democracy is based on the rule of law. If anyone, no matter how powerful, is suspected of a criminal act, our justice system will investigate, charge and convict them according to due process,” Omar said. “Make no mistake: the fact that one of the most powerful people in the world has been investigated and charged impartially is proof that we still live under the rule of law. And no one is above the law.”
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