Donald Trump indicted: Lawmakers, allies and critics react

Democrats, Republicans and more took to social media on Thursday after reports surfaced that a grand jury in New York has voted to indict former President Donald Trump.

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The indictment was filed under seal and not immediately made public. However, The Associated Press and The Washington Post reported that the grand jury has been hearing evidence related to a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election aimed at keeping her quiet about an affair she says she had with Trump years earlier.

Grand jury votes to indict Donald Trump

See what people are saying:

Former President Donald Trump

Stormy Daniels and her attorney, Clark Brewster

Thank you https://t.co/96ZZ7oDTtm
— Stormy Daniels (@StormyDaniels) March 30, 2023

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

Alvin Bragg has irreparably damaged our country in an attempt to interfere in our Presidential election.

As he routinely frees violent criminals to terrorize the public, he weaponized our sacred system of justice against President Donald Trump.

The American people will not…
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) March 30, 2023

Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen

JUST IN: Statement from Trump’s former fixer and attorney Michael Cohen in the indictment of the former President pic.twitter.com/VI32uLyIWk
— Reena Roy (@reenaroy) March 30, 2023

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head.

It is un-American.

The Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney has consistently bent the law to downgrade felonies and to excuse criminal misconduct. Yet, now he is…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 30, 2023

Democratic National Committee

We will continue to hold Trump and all Republican candidates accountable for the extreme MAGA agenda that includes banning abortion, cutting Social Security and Medicare, and undermining free and fair elections.
— Ammar Moussa (@ammarmufasa) March 30, 2023

Trump’s son, Eric Trump

This is third world prosecutorial misconduct. It is the opportunistic targeting of a political opponent in a campaign year.
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) March 30, 2023

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif.

The indictment of a former president is a somber day for America. It’s also a time to put faith in our judicial system. Donald Trump deserves every protection provided to him by the Constitution. As that unfolds, let us neither celebrate nor destroy. Justice benefits us all.
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) March 30, 2023

Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr.

Our corrupt elites aren't threatened by violent criminals on the streets because all of them have private security. They don't care if normal people are being terrorized. But they are threatened by Trump, which is why they're willing to turn us into a Banana Republic to stop him! https://t.co/y5TdrdT2K7
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) March 30, 2023

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

The indictment of a former president is unprecedented.

But so too is the unlawful conduct in which Trump has been engaged.

A nation of laws must hold the rich and powerful accountable, even when they hold high office.

Especially when they do.

To do otherwise is not democracy.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) March 30, 2023

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas

The Democrat Party’s hatred for Donald Trump knows no bounds. The “substance” of this political persecution is utter garbage.

This is completely unprecedented and is a catastrophic escalation in the weaponization of the justice system.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) March 30, 2023

Trump’s estranged niece, Mary Trump

It's official: Donald Trump is the:

1st man in the Oval Office to be impeached twice

1st man in the Oval Office to incite an insurrection

1st to lose the popular vote TWICE

and now . . . the first to be INDICTED.

But the media is missing the biggest reason this is so… pic.twitter.com/IB0m4u5C5E
— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) March 30, 2023

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y.

My full statement on the unprecedented and scam indictment of President Trump: pic.twitter.com/UgD5FQgNeD
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) March 30, 2023