Republican lawmakers gathered in New York City in recent days to stand alongside former President Trump as he attended his secret trial.
Trump’s motorcade on Monday included several members of Congress: Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (RN.Y.), who represents Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn.
The three lawmakers are sitting side by side in the second row of the gallery, about 10 feet behind the former president.
While waiting for the process to begin, Vance and Malliotakis talked. Tuberville mostly looked around the courtroom.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) joined Trump last week for a court hearing, making the New York courtroom the latest place to curry favor with the former president and his supporters.
“It’s good to see some elected Republicans supporting him for the first time. Thank goodness some Republicans were able to take time out from their idle jobs to support Trump in court today,” Laura Loomer, a strong Trump ally, posted on X.
Trump is under a gag order that prohibits him from attacking witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and the judge’s family. But his allies in Congress are not subject to such restrictions, and some of them vehemently defended the former president, attacking the credibility of witnesses and the judge.
Scott, the Florida senator, has attacked Judge Juan Merchan’s daughter in recent days, alleging that she was a Democratic operative and that her work tarnished the judge’s impartiality. Trump previously made similar comments, but was rebuked after Merchan expanded the gag order.
Vance’s appearance on Monday was particularly notable given the talk surrounding him as a potential Trump running mate in the November election. He is the first major vice presidential candidate to join Trump on the court.
The Ohio senator, who appeared Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” echoed many of Trump’s claims that the case against him is politically motivated and that he did nothing wrong.
“I think when you look at all these attacks on Donald Trump, you have to be honest with yourself and say: It’s not about the law and it’s not about justice,” Vance said.
Zach Schonfeld contributed
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
