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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump’s main rival for the 2024 GOP nomination, said the decision to indict the former president shows political bias on the part of Biden’s Justice Department and that it is a ” armaments” is of its police powers.
Trump was indicted Thursday on federal charges of conspiracy, obstruction and stealing classified documents.
“The arming of federal law enforcement poses a mortal threat to a free society,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Thursday.
“For years we have witnessed uneven application of the law depending on political affiliation. Why so zealous about chasing Trump and yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter?”
DeSantis said his administration will “bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end armaments once and for all.”
Other GOP candidates made supportive statements, but not all.
Senator Tim Scott, who announced his candidacy last month, said in an interview Thursday night with Fox News’ Harris Faulkner that Trump’s indictment indicates that the “scales” of the justice system have been “weighted.”
Then-President Donald Trump greets Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis of Florida as his wife, Casey DeSantis, watches as they are introduced at a campaign rally at Hertz Arena on Oct. 31, 2018 in Estero, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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“One thing that makes America a city on a hill is faith in our justice system. And what we see today is a justice system where the scales are awaited. That seems to be a result of where we are today,” Scott said.
“As President of the United States, I would purge all injustices and impurities in our system so that every American can trust that they are being seen by the Lady of Justice with a blindfold on. That is what we need in this nation,” he said.
2024 Presidential Candidate, Senator Tim Scott, RS.C. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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But former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who threw in his hat earlier this week, stated on Twitter that “we don’t get our news from Trump’s Truth Social account.” Trump first announced he had been sued through his social media platform, before reporting that his legal team had received a subpoena from DOJ. The indictment itself remains sealed.
“Let’s see what the facts are when a potential indictment is released. As I’ve said before, no one is above the law, as much as they’d like to be. We’ll have more to say when the facts come to light, Christie said.
Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson called on Trump to end his campaign saying, “With the news that Donald Trump has been indicted for the second time, our country is in a position that weakens our democracy.”
Former Republican Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie and former President Donald Trump. (Getty Images)
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“Donald Trump’s actions — from his willful disregard for the Constitution to his disrespect for the rule of law — should not define our nation or the Republican Party. This is a sad day for our country,” he continued.
“While Donald Trump is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the ongoing criminal proceedings will be a major distraction. This reaffirms the need for Donald Trump to honor the office and end his campaign,” he said.
Entrepreneur turned GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said if he won the White House he would pardon Trump “immediately”.
“It would be much easier for me to win this election if Trump wasn’t in the race, but I stand for principles over politics,” Ramaswamy wrote on Twitter Thursday night. “I commit to immediately pardon Trump on January 20, 2025 and restore the rule of law to our country.”
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It is the second time this year that Trump has been indicted. Trump pleaded not guilty in April after being charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg with 34 felonies of falsifying first-degree business records.
Trump is due to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday.
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Brianna Herlihy is a political writer for Fox News Digital.
