Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert suggested that former President Donald Trump’s legal challenges would disappear if he decided to quit his run for a second term in the White House. Boebert made these comments in response to Trump’s hush-money trial in Manhattan Criminal Court, where he faces 34 felony charges related to a hush payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. The trial marks the first of four criminal indictments filed against Trump, who has maintained his innocence to all charges. Boebert, a Republican ally to Trump, expressed concerns that the trial would keep him off the campaign trail.
Trump’s allies in Congress defended him after the first day of his hush-money trial, criticizing the legal challenges as a form of election interference. Some X users dismissed claims that the charges were politically motivated and suggested that Trump could avoid the trial by pleading guilty. Boebert faced criticism on social media for her support of Trump, with users pointing out her son’s criminal charges and allegations of business fraud by Trump. Other Trump supporters in Congress, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene and Byron Donalds, also condemned the trial as politically motivated, accusing the radical left and President Joe Biden of having an ax to grind against Trump.
Trump’s defense team made requests for him to be excused from attending the trial on specific dates, citing prior commitments such as a Supreme Court hearing and his son’s high school graduation. However, New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan denied Trump’s request to miss the trial, stating that he must be present. Trump expressed frustration at not being able to attend the Supreme Court hearing and campaign in various states during a media interview. President Joe Biden, when asked by reporters, indicated that he had not watched any coverage of Trump’s trial and declined to comment on the proceedings.
More than 50 potential jurors were dismissed on the first day of the trial, as both sides worked to choose a jury pool that could remain impartial. Trump has indicated that he plans to testify in his own defense during the trial. There were reports that Trump appeared to be sleeping in court at one point, and he later glared at a reporter as he exited the courtroom. The trial is expected to continue for several weeks, with Trump’s legal team seeking to defend him against the charges related to the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Despite the ongoing legal challenges, Trump remains determined to fight for reelection and has garnered support from various allies in Congress.
