Congressional Republicans furious about former President Donald Trump’s conviction by a Manhattan jury last week are preparing a series of counterpunches to hit back at Democrats.
The historic trial caused an uproar among Republicans, and Trump’s allies have raced to his aid, condemning those who contributed to his conviction and putting forth actions to punish those they believe caused it.
After blasting the decision in public statements and media appearances, lawmakers are backing up their words with some political muscle.
Delaying votes in the Senate
A group of 10 GOP senators vowed to combat Democratic judicial and political appointees, along with disallowing any “non-security related funding for this administration or any appropriations bill which funds partisan lawfare” and “expedited consideration and passage of Democrat legislation or authorities that are not directly relevant to the safety of the American people.”
The list includes noted vice presidential candidates in Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and J.D. Vance (R-OH), along with three senators up for reelection, Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Josh Hawley (R-MO).
The 10 senators comprise about a fifth of 49 Senate Republicans, but they will likely be enough to stall any bill considered bipartisan. Democrats still have more votes in the Senate, with 47, plus four independent senators who all caucus with the Democratic Party.
Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) is among those independents, and he has yet to make a statement about Trump’s conviction since recently leaving the Democratic Party. He expressed disappointment with Trump’s indictment last year, and he is known for being a swing vote in the Senate.
No cash for New York
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a staunch Trump ally, said she wants to defund New York. “NO federal funding to New York,” she posted. “I’m calling for it!!”
“New York needs to drop their conviction of Pres Trump,” she said. “The whole thing was illegal! Republicans should not vote to fund a single penny to that corrupt state.”
Greene’s call to defund New York appears to be an empty threat. She doesn’t have any sole power to do so, but it highlights the lengths the Georgia Republican is willing to go to combat what many Republicans have called a baseless conviction of Trump.
Cross-examination for Bragg and prosecutors
Other House Republicans are requesting that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Trump prosecutor Matthew Colangelo appear in front of the Judiciary Committee’s Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on June 13.
The hearing will examine “actions by state and local prosecutors to engage politically motivated prosecutions of the federal government, in particular the recent political prosecution of President Donald Trump by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.”
The committee’s request for Bragg and Colangelo isn’t binding, and it doesn’t appear as though either prosecutor is planning on attending the hearing.
Reviving pressure on Jack Smith
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) implied there is a new push to investigate special counsel Jack Smith, who is involved in two of Trump’s three other cases, along with Bragg. He alleged that Smith was “abusing his authority as well.”
“House Republicans are investigating Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and Special Counsel Jack Smith for targeting political opponents,” Johnson posted on X. “The American people deserve answers, and we will not tolerate this two-tiered system of justice.”
MTG has floated a plan to defund Smith’s office as he pursues two other cases against Trump.
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Last month, Johnson said he had no intention of cutting off funding for Smith.
“That’s not something you wave a wand and just eliminate the special counsel as a provision,” he said. “There is a necessity for a function like that, because sometimes the Department of Justice — which is an executive branch agency — can’t necessarily, without a conflict of interest, investigate or prosecute the president who’s their boss, or the president’s family.”
