Mike Lee praises Trump for standing up to legal attacks from the Clintons and warns Biden of potential dangers.
Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee spoke out against the “lock her up” chants directed at former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, stating that it made him “uncomfortable” and urged President Biden to avoid engaging in a cycle of political lawfare following former President Trump’s guilty verdict.
Lee criticized the conviction of Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records by a New York jury, highlighting possible errors in the case that should be acknowledged and walked away from. He emphasized the need to hold those who politicize the judicial system accountable.
Following Trump’s guilty verdict, Lee led a group of Republican senators in a pledge to cease cooperation with Democrat legislative priorities and nominations. He emphasized that the conviction should not be ignored and that it was time for a change in how business is conducted in the Senate.
The pledge has garnered support from 14 senators so far, including key figures like National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steve Daines and Sen. Rick Scott, who is vying for Republican leadership position.
Lee expressed confidence that more Republican senators would join the pledge as time goes on, despite the limited response from Democrat counterparts. He highlighted the pressure certain Democrat incumbents, like Jon Tester and Sherrod Brown, may feel in light of the pledge.
Addressing concerns about a potential government shutdown due to the pledge, Lee reassured that the move would not make a shutdown more likely. He anticipated the need for a stopgap funding bill when current appropriations run out in September.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, Lee’s stance represents a shift in how Senate Republicans plan to engage with Democrat priorities and nominations in the aftermath of Trump’s conviction.
