House Speaker Kevin McCarthy would not say Tuesday whether he would support former President Donald Trump after a New York jury found him liable for battery and defamation in a civil suit brought by E. Jean Carroll.
“You know what, I’m in this meeting — let me know what’s going on,” McCarthy, who was leaving an Oval Office meeting with President Joe Biden on the debt ceiling, said to White House reporters.
In 2019, McCarthy said the reporters he believed Trump’s account denying Carroll’s accusations.
“I haven’t met him yet – I understand what the President is like [Trump] said, although I don’t have anything more about the situation… I know the president said it’s not true, I don’t — don’t know anything about it,” he told reporters at the time. , and added, “Yes, I believe the President.”
Currently, Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer described the verdict as a serious issue.
“I’d rather have a president without that history, but at the same time, at some point, there’s going to be a binary choice, and then we’re going to do it,” Cramer said.
The North Dakota senator said that while the ruling “doesn’t even disqualify the American people,” it goes to Trump’s election.
“That and many other things cause me to doubt whether he is the best nominee for the party. That is why I have not endorsed anyone. I remain open minded,” he said.
late. Mitt Romney, who has long criticized the former president, said he hopes the verdict will lead people to conclude he is unfit for office.
“A jury of his peers found him guilty of sexual assault and awarded $5 million to the victim. I hope the American jury reaches the same conclusion about Donald Trump,” said the Utah senator.
Rep. Don Bacon, a moderate Republican who represents a district that President Joe Biden won, said Trump “got what he deserved.”
“The jury spoke and I respect the jury,” he said. “I think he showed a lot of disrespect to the jury and the court … The way he treated them, he got what he deserved.”
Bacon has already said he will not support Trump for president in 2024 and added that he thinks the former president is “too divisive” and will not win the White House.
A lawmaker who endorsed Trump for presidentRep. Matt Gaetzsaid he didn’t think the ruling would “make a big difference,” in the election.
“I absolutely do not believe that Donald Trump abused anyone,” the Florida lawmaker said.
Asked about some of his Republican colleagues saying they find it hard to see how they can support a presidential candidate found liable for battery and defamation, Gaetz said, “I don’t similar to that view.”
Senate Minority Whip John Thune said he doesn’t think the decision will affect Trump’s base, but could influence some swing voters.
However, The. John Cornyn said it is difficult to assess the political fallout for Trump, in part, because many voters have strongly defined positions about him.
“People who love him will still support him and people who don’t, won’t. I just think it’s too early to know what the impact will be if there will be any impact,” Cornyn said.
Many senators rejected New York’s legal system and questioned the jury.
Sen. lindsey graham He simply told reporters, “I think the New York legal system is off the rails when it comes to Donald Trump.”
Former GOP presidential hopeful, Sen. Marco Rubiosaid, “That jury is a joke, the whole case is a joke.“
freshman in Ohio Sen. JD Vancewho is a staunch supporter of the former president, said he doubts the verdict from the liberal New York City jury because it “seems obsessed with going after Donald Trump,” he said.
on CNN Nicky Robertson and Ted Barrett contributed reporting to this post.
