Donald Trump’s indictment exposes a “dirty game” being played by the Democrats as they bid to hide Joe Biden’s weaknesses, a political commentator has claimed.
The former US President is facing charges over hush money payments made to a porn star in the lead up to the 2016 presidential election.
In being indicted, Trump becomes the first serving or former US president to face a criminal charge, but the 76-year-old denies any wrongdoing.
Republican Overseas Chairman Greg Swenson believes the Democrats have been meddling in the affair through Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who has been pursuing the investigation.
Greg Swenson says Donald Trump's attempts to remain at the forefront of attention could backfire
Reuters / GB News
Swenson told GB News that the Democrats believe the case brought against Trump is “very weak”, but clear political motives are behind it.
He said: “They don’t really think that they can convict him. They just wanted to elevate Trump in the primary process so they can run against him in 2024.
“After the Mar-a-Lago raid, his numbers went from plus nine over DeSantis prior to the raid to plus 39.
“That’s going to happen here. The fundraising machine has kicked in for Trump and that has elevated him to the front page.
“It will also discourage the Republican nominees from talking about the issues and the absolute failure of the Biden administration, instead they’ll be talking about Trump and his trial.
“It’s brilliant, dirty politics. There’s nothing illegal about what the Democrats are doing, it’s just a little sleazy.”
The ex-US President has rallied against the indictment, defiantly stating he is “the most innocent man in American history” prior to the indictment, a move that could “backfire”, Swenson warned.
He told Stephen Dixon and Isabel Webster: “On one hand, it’ll elevate Trump and get all the attention he loves.
Donald Trump faces competition for the Republican nomination
Reuters
“But there’s some Trump fatigue in the voter base and perhaps this will elevate people like DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo who are all a little bit more careful with their language and a little more deliberate in how they speak.
“So that could be the case. In 2015 and 2016 it surely wasn’t the case and Trump was able to get all of the attention and that’s one of the reasons that he won.
“Maybe there will be some Trump fatigue, it is difficult to predict.
“The one thing we can be sure of is the political ramifications here could be destructive or negative here.”
Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence has also suggested Trump’s indictment is politically motivated, describing it as “an outrage”.
Pence, who is also in the vying for the Republican nomination, said the move “will only further serve to divide our country”.
Ron DeSantis, seen by many as Trump’s main potential opponent for the Republican presidential candidacy has also criticised the indictment, saying on Twitter that it is “un-American”.
“The weaponisation of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head,” he said.