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"This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history," the former president wrote in a statement. "From the time I came down the golden escalator at Trump Tower ... the Radical Left Democrats ... have been engaged in a Witch-Hunt to destroy the Make America Great Again movement."DeSantis says his state will not assist in an extradition request. From Timcast:
Trump referenced previous efforts to indict him, including claims the former president had ties to Russia, two impeachment attempts, and last year's raid on Mar-a-Lago.
"The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession with trying to 'Get Trump,' but now they've done the unthinkable - indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant Election Interference."
"Never before in our Nation's history has this been done," Trump continued. "Weaponizing our justice system to punish a political opponent, who just so happens to be a President of the United States and by far the leading Republican candidate for President has never happened before."
"I believe this Witch-Hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden," Trump concluded. "The American people realize exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here. Everyone can see it."
Trump followed up his response in a Truth Social post:These Thugs and Radical Left Monsters have just INDICATED the 45th President of the United States of America, and the leading Republican Candidate, by far, for the 2024 Nomination for President. THIS IS AN ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY THE LIKES OF WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. IT IS LIKEWISE A CONTINUING ATTACK ON OUR ONCE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. THE USA IS NOW A THIRD WORLD NATION, A NATION IN SERIOUS DECLINE. SO SAD!"This evening we contacted Mr. Trump's attorney to coordinate his surrender to the Manhattan D.A.'s Office for arraignment on a Supreme Court indictment, which remains under seal," said a spokesperson for New York district attorney Alvin Bragg. "Guidance will be provided when the arraignment date is selected."
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has responded to the news of former President Donald Trump's indictment, saying that it is a "weaponization of the legal system."
DeSantis also said that his state would not assist in an extradition request if one is made for the former president.
News of Trump's indictment by a New York grand jury broke on Thursday, despite previous reports that the grand jury hearing evidence was taking a month-long break.
"The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head," DeSantis tweeted. "It is un-American."
DeSantis accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of "stretching the law" to get the indictment.
"The Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney has consistently bent the law to downgrade felonies and to excuse criminal misconduct. Yet, now he is stretching the law to target a political opponent."
DeSantis also said that his state will not assist with any potential extradition requests "given the questionable circumstances."
"Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda," DeSantis said.
George Soros, a far-left billionaire who tends to fund extremist candidates, pledged to donate at least a million dollars to Braggs' campaign through his Color of Change PAC. In their endorsement, the PAC noted that the now-District Attorney would not continue a justice system that "protects and privileges the powerful and well-connected."
"We have made multiple good faith attempts to find common ground so we could see this critical piece of information. Unfortunately, Secretary Blinken has refused to provide the Dissent Cable and his response to the cable, forcing me to issue my first subpoena as chairman of this committee."According to the Wall Street Journal, the cable sent July 2021 warned Blinken about the potential fall of Kabul through a special dissent channel, which officials can use to express contrarian views to senior State Department officials. The State Department had previously offered to share the "substance" of the cable via a briefing, according to the AP.
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