Two Republican deputies he supported former President Donald Trump following one indictment for his handling of classified documents, claiming that the charges against Trump have been politicized.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday that “this is the most political thing I’ve ever seen.” Jordan, who serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, noted that Trump said he declassified the materials and that “I’m going by the president’s word and he said he did.”
“And the people who are doing it are, the administration, the Justice Department of his opponent in the next presidential election. This is as political as it gets,” he said.
Presidents are held accountable to classify and declassify material, although there is a process.
Trump and one of his staffers at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, they were charged with dozens of charges of allegedly violating statues related to the handling of classified documents after Trump left the White House. The former president is accused of directing his personal servant Walt Nauta to move boxes of documents to hide them, show documents to guests at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and more. Nauta was also charged by officials.
Trump also allegedly acknowledged knowing some of the documents were classified, saying “that’s still a secret,” according to the indictment.
But Jordan wasn’t the only Republican to support the former president on Sunday. Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., on ABC’s “This Week” criticized Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server, President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence both with documents classified among their belongings, as well as other officials and public figures.
Washington: Barr slams Trump over classified documents indictment
Trump faces 31 counts of willfully withholding national defense information under the Espionage Act. He also faces charges related to obstruction of justice, among other allegations.
The story continues
“President Trump will have his day in court, but the spying charges are absolutely ridiculous,” Graham said Sunday. “Whether you like Trump or not, he didn’t commit espionage.”
“Donald Trump, you can hate his guts, but he’s not a spy,” Graham said.
Later in the interview, Graham added, “I think Donald Trump is stronger politically today than he was before.”
According to the indictment against Trump, one document described an “attack plan” and another contained a map of a military installation.
Trump has maintained his innocence following the indictment. His first appearance in federal court is scheduled for Tuesday at 3 p.m. in Miami.
Collaborating: Bart Jansen and Josh Meyer
This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: Jim Jordan and Lindsey Graham support Donald Trump over classified documents
