“Back Off” Accusations Justice Department is Weaponized Against Trump, GOP Presidential Candidate Says

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who’s a presidential candidate in the GOP primary, said his fellow Republicans are mistaken by calling the indictment against Donald Trump a “weaponization of the Justice Department.”

Hutchinson retains his opinion that Trump should drop out of the presidential race for the sake of the country and office of the presidency.

“I think that he should drop out. Clearly, he’s not going to. This is going to be decided by the voters,” Hutchinson said in an ABC interview Sunday.

Hutchinson continued to say Republicans should “back off” from allegations that the Department of Justice has been weaponized.

“And the whole concept that so many Republican leaders are adopting that this is the weaponization of the Justice Department. And I think they’ve made some bad decisions. I can certainly disagree with many of the decisions they’ve made, particularly Jim Comey and some of his reference to Hillary Clinton,” Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson then said Trump would be the one weaponizing the Justice Department if he’s elected president.

“But in terms of the overall charge of weaponization of the Justice Department, look at Donald Trump. He’s already declared that if he’s elected president, he’s gonna appoint a special prosecutor to go after the Biden family. That’s called a weaponization of the Justice Department,” he said.

“And so let’s back off of these accusations, and let’s get back to being the party of the rule of law, of the justice system, supporting law enforcement, and the equal application of law. Let’s don’t undermine the greatest justice system and criminal justice system and rule of law in the world today, this side of heaven,” Hutchinson added.

WATCH:

Asa Hutchinson calls on his fellow Republicans to “back off” allegations that the DOJ has been "weaponized."

“Let’s get back to being the party of the rule of law, of the justice system supporting law enforcement and the equal application of the law.” https://t.co/re0py9LGb0 pic.twitter.com/gf921PLUWv

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 18, 2023

In the interview, Hutchinson said he believes Trump would pardon himself if he’s convicted of charges but wins the 2024 presidential election.

From ABC News:

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Sunday that he expects 2024 presidential opponent Donald Trump may try to pardon himself in the event he is convicted of criminal charges but also reelected.

“I could certainly see Donald Trump doing that. That’s exactly what he would intend if he got elected president. And if [his case] was not brought to trial before then, he’s likely to issue that as well,” Hutchinson said in an interview with ABC “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl.

“From a legal standpoint, a constitutional standpoint, that is a question that the courts would have to resolve,” Hutchinson told Karl. “I’m doubtful of it. I don’t think that’s what the Constitution intends in giving the president the pardon power. But most importantly, it would be inappropriate, unseemly.”

The former president has been indicted in two cases and pleaded not guilty in each. He is charged by federal prosecutors for allegedly illegally withholding government secrets after leaving the White House and, separately, he is charged in New York City related to hush money paid to an adult film actress before the 2016 election.

A potential presidential pardon would only apply to the federal case.

Hutchinson has criticized others in the Republican primary field for promising to pardon Trump before his trial, saying the conversation alone undermines the American justice system. Hutchinson reiterated that view on “This Week,” citing conservatives who claim Trump is being targeted by law enforcement.

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