A group of Senate Republicans vowed to do what they can to stand in the way of President Joe Biden ‘s priorities after the guilty ...
A group of Senate Republicans vowed to do what they can to stand in the way of President Joe Biden‘s priorities after the guilty verdict in Donald Trump‘s New York hush money trial, marking the first time a former U.S. president has been convicted of a crime.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) revealed on Friday that he and seven of his GOP colleagues — Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), J.D. Vance (R-OH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Roger Marshall (R-KS) — had signed onto a pledge.
Vance and Rubio are reportedly in the mix to become Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Scott is campaigning to become the next leader of the Senate GOP, along with Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Senate Minority Whip Sen. John Thune (R-SD).
“The White House has made a mockery of the rule of law and fundamentally altered our politics in un-American ways,” the pledge says. “As a Senate Republican conference, we are unwilling to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear this country apart.”
The pledge continues, “To that end, we will not 1) allow any increase to non-security related funding for this administration, or any appropriations bill which funds partisan lawfare; 2) vote to confirm this administration’s political and judicial appointees; and 3) allow expedited consideration and passage of Democrat legislation or authorities that are not directly relevant to the safety of the American people.”
Later that day, Lee announced that the list of GOP senators who joined the pledge had grown. Two other members—Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Ron Johnson (R-WI)—added their signatures, giving the group nearly one-fifth representation in the Republican caucus of the upper chamber. Despite the increase in numbers, a fraction of the minority party is limited in what they can do alone to stop Democrat leadership from making forward progress.
A jury returned a guilty verdict against Trump on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to allegedly cover up payments in a bid to conceal a tryst with adult film star Stormy Daniels as part of a “catch-and-kill” scheme to influence the 2016 election. Trump, who denied the affair and pleaded not guilty to the charges, said he would be “appealing this scam.” Sentencing is scheduled for July 11.
“Strongly worded statements are not enough,” Lee said on X. “Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable. We are no longer cooperating with any Democrat legislative priorities or nominations, and we invite all concerned Senators to join our stand.”
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