(AmericanProsperity.com) – Former Maryland GOP Governor Larry Hogan condemned the Republican presidential candidates that are defending former president Donald Trump after the DOJ indictment against him. He was charged with 37 criminal counts on June 9 over his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office.
During a panel discussion June 18 on ABC’s “This Week,” Hogan said “It’s absurd” that these presidential candidates refuse to take these charges seriously. He also accused these candidates of being “weak” and said it doesn’t make sense that they are part of the race if they refuse to challenge Trump.
Hogan, who refused to enter the race, made these accusations against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. He claimed these candidates were “enablers” and said they probably won’t even win the GOP nomination. He also told the panel that the only candidates he cannot criticize in this matter are former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson.
The DOJ’s indictment has polarized the Republican Party’s primary, with some candidates calling on Trump to drop out of the race and others pledging to pardon him. Some of this last group have gone against President Joe Biden and the DOJ, echoing the former president’s claim that he’s the victim of a “political prosecution.” Other candidates like former Vice President Mike Pence have shown a neutral stance and have called Americans to trust in the US judicial system.
Hogan said about this matter that while he understands the concerns about “overzealous prosecution,” this wasn’t a case like the “Russia probe.” He explained the charges against Trump are serious as they have potential national security implications. Hogan added that Republicans needed to accept these facts and recognize that Trump is a flawed candidate. Finally, he said that, in addition to the former president, candidates who don’t take this case seriously should also be “disqualified from running.”
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