Published:

Apr 2, 2023 09:55 GMT

The former US president would have obtained the support of at least 37 Republican legislators in the House of Representatives.

Both supporters and political opponents of former US President Donald Trump believe that the criminal case against him will not diminish his political chances and could even boost his campaign to return to the White House, reports New York Post.

“The political persecution launched by Alvin Bragg [fiscal del caso] will do stronger President Trump,” former Republican congressman and New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin told the newspaper. He also noted that some voters “are already raising significant concerns about this allegation” and talk of “political persecution.”

For his part, Democratic political consultant Jon Reinish said the criminal case “will reconsolidate the base around him, shifting the center of gravity back toward Trump, not so much as a candidate, but as something bigger than that: a cause”. “No one is as skilled at playing with the feeling of grievance and persecution”he stressed.

“In the short term, there is a mobilization effect, there is a fundraising effect, which Trump is going to take full advantage of,” Indian David Kochel, a strategist for the Republican Party, on Fox News.

Meanwhile, Axios reported that the ex-president has obtained the support of at least 37 Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives, which could help him in the presidential campaign and in a possible trial. People familiar with the matter said Ronny Jackson of Texas and Elise Stefanik of New York have even been calling their House colleagues on Trump’s behalf in recent weeks, asking for support.

Likewise, a survey by YouGov and Yahoo News reflects that, after the Manhattan grand jury decision, Trump reached biggest advantage about the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, his likely rival in the 2024 Republican Party primaries. Thus, the 52% of Republicans or Republican-leaning independents said they would support Trump, while only twenty-one % of voters would support DeSantis.

By comparison, in the previous survey held in mid-March, Trump had an approval from the 44%compared to 28% of its rival.

“Shameful weapon” of the judicial system

The Manhattan Grand Jury vote this thursday in favor of formally accuse the former president for his role in the silence payment to the porn actress Stormy Daniels. Manhattan prosecutor Alvin Bragg said prosecutors are working to organize the trump surrender to the Prosecutor’s Office.

In the first 24 hours after the court decision, Trump managed collect more than four million dollars. The statement published on the politician’s website indicates that this “incredible” wave of donations shows that the American people consider the accusation against the former president as a “shameful weapon” of the judicial system by a prosecutor financed by the investor of Hungarian origin. George Soros.

The decision marks the first time a former president has been charged in a criminal matter. The accusation or conviction would not legally prevent the Republican politician from running for president again, since not having a criminal record is not among the criteria established by the US Constitution to determine who is eligible to be president.