Former President Donald Trump’s entourage continued to grow Tuesday as more high-profile politicians attended the New York hush money crime hearing, including House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Johnson, the top Republican in Congress, was in criminal court with Trump on Tuesday morning. After riding with Trump in his motorcade from Trump Tower, the speaker read a statement at nearby Collect Pond Park, where he said he was „deeply troubled” by the „fraudulence of this experiment.”
„I told him I wanted to be here to call what was a travesty of justice,” Johnson continued, „President Trump is a friend and I want to be here to support him.”
Her appearance comes less than a week after Trump helped save Johnson’s speakership after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, a staunch Trump ally, tried to oust him. Trump spoke to Greene privately and urged him to drop his push to fire Johnson — Greene had pushed for a vote to oust him, which Democrats and Republicans overwhelmingly rejected.
Throughout his remarks, Johnson stuck to Trump’s script, where he discussed the length of the investigation that would keep Trump off the campaign trail.
„They’re doing this on purpose to keep him here and to keep him off the campaign trail,” Johnson said.
In addition to Johnson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Bergham, Vivek Ramaswamy and GOP Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills also appeared in court Tuesday and spoke to reporters at Collect Pond Park.
Burgum, who has not commented on Trump’s criminal charges, was quick to call the investigation „election interference” while on the campaign trail for the primary presidential election.
„I think it’s something we all know is a bogus investigation, but if you get a chance to see it up close and personal, you can see that it really is a sham investigation,” Burgum said. In the courtroom this morning.
„Of course, I think the only conclusion is its election interference, and it binds the president for being on the campaign trail.”
Ramasamy pledged to continue to support Trump if he is convicted — and then said others should do the same.
„I’m ashamed as an American citizen to have the former leader of the free world sitting here in a courtroom, and let’s be honest, the next leader of the free world, sitting in shame in this damn third-rate courtroom,” Ramasamy said. out of court.
One of Trump’s sons, Eric Trump, has been appearing in court in support of his father. On Tuesday, his wife and RNC co-chair Laura Trump joined him for the proceedings.
„They see this as a scam,” Trump said of his court guests after court proceedings ended Monday. „I think it’s a terrible thing for democracy in this country.”
Trump was accompanied by guests on a key day in his court proceedings as his former fixer Michael Cohen resumed his testimony. Cohen also testified Monday.
Johnson attacked Cohen’s credibility.
„This is a man who is clearly out for personal vendetta, and he is widely known as a witness who has a problem with the truth,” Johnson said.
As Trump has tried to boost his campaign skills, he has been giving statements with his guests on the case and attacking witnesses, while pushing out campaign talking points that Trump is barred from doing anything under his gag order.
Some of those guests will spend the evening with Trump at a Manhattan fundraiser hosted by billionaire financier Howard Ludnick. The fundraiser will also feature vice presidential hopefuls, including Sens. Tim Scott, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott and Govs. Doug Burgum and Christy Nome.
The increase in guests to the courthouse comes after Trump previously complained about the lack of supporters around the courthouse, blaming the lack of attendance on security procedures. Although supporters were allowed in the park opposite the courthouse, only a few turned up.
ABC News’ Kendall Rose and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.
. „Gracz. Namiętny pionier w mediach społecznościowych. Wielokrotnie nagradzany miłośnik muzyki. Rozrabiacz”.