Conservatives Mull Congressional Response to Trump Verdict

WASHINGTON—With the initial shock of former President Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts in New York City wearing down, some conservatives in Congress are looking ahead for ways they can respond.

But for many Republicans, words aren’t enough to deal with what they see as a threat to Americans’ fundamental freedoms and the judicial system meant to protect them—they want to see action.

But what that action might look like is still unclear, with several competing ideas still being thrown around by conservatives.

“Right now, we’re talking about a lot of things, but there’s nothing imminent to talk about,” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) told The Epoch Times.

‘Three-Pronged Approach’

Mr. Johnson is among those who have publicly shared ideas about how to respond to the conviction.

On June 4, Mr. Johnson proposed what he called a “three-pronged approach” to reforming a justice system that Republicans say has been weaponized against President Trump in particular and conservatives in general.

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Mr. Johnson said House Republicans would wield the power of the purse, other legislation, and the chamber’s oversight authorities to protect the integrity of the American justice system.

“All those things will be happening vigorously, because we have to do that, because the stakes are too high and because people are losing faith in our institutions,” he said.

“And that, at the end of the day, is something that should concern every single one of us. And I think it does.”

Mr. Johnson shared at the same time that many people he had talked to following President Trump’s conviction viewed it as a “new low” for the United States.

“People understand what’s at stake now,” he said. “This is not just a contest between two individuals for president. It’s now about whether we’re going to defend the integrity of our system itself. And we’re going to do everything we can, everything within our scope of our responsibility in the Congress, to address it appropriately.”

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said that Republicans should mount ethics investigations into the issue.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), an outspoken ally of the former president, told The Epoch Times she’d go a step further in responding.

“There should be no federal funding for lower Manhattan—zero federal dollars,” Ms. Greene said.

“I would zero out that that entire district. I think Alvin Bragg needs to feel pressure from his district when they don’t receive any federal funds,” she said, referencing the district attorney who led the New York case against President Trump.

She recommended the same action in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ district in Georgia.

“I think there’s a lot of action that we could take because we hold the power of the purse, and that I think that moves the needle,” Ms. Greene added.

Asked about this proposal, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) told The Epoch Times that such an action is “easier said than done,” but said he would support a vote on the plan.

Speaking about the ideas being thrown around, Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) told The Epoch Times, “I’m all for them,” but he added that Republicans need a clear idea—backed by President Trump—on how to respond before they move ahead with a congressional response.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) was doubtful that Republicans would take such an approach, however.

“These things are all a function of what you’re willing to do,” Mr. Roy told The Epoch Times.

“But I’ll just say … I wouldn’t go put a lot of money in Vegas on the willingness of a Republican conference to hold the line on a spending fight heading into September,” Mr. Roy added.

‘Fight Fire With Fire’

Over on the Senate side, a group of 13 lawmakers have shared their own plans for responding to the verdict—namely, by playing hardball and ramping up their obstruction of President Joe Biden’s judicial and legislative agenda.

“The Democratic Party is cheerleading efforts to imprison Donald Trump and save Joe Biden from the electoral consequences of his disastrous presidency,” Mr. Lee told The Epoch Times of the initiative. “They do not get to return to Congress and expect friendly cooperation from Republicans—they can and will be stopped.”

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), who signed the statement, said obstruction would “fight fire with fire.”

“I think holding up his judiciary nominees is the best way to do that, to go right at ‘em. An eye for an eye, tooth for tooth.”

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), one of the original signatories of the statement, said there is “pretty much a war that is going on.”

“It’s not Republican and Democrat. It’s American versus anti-American,” Mr. Tuberville said. “Nobody trusts the justice system anymore. They don’t trust us up here.”

“We can’t act like it’s business as usual,” agreed Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.). “It’s not business as usual: They convicted our presidential candidate, they’re trying to put him in jail so he can’t run.”

Sen. Josh Hawley, a signatory of the statement, made similar comments.

“I’m not going to facilitate his nominees, and I’m not going to vote for his nominees. I don’t do that anyway,” he joked.

He said that he would welcome additional ideas from his colleagues on how to respond to the verdict.

Speaking about the statement from the Republican senators, Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) told The Epoch Times he thinks the House should follow suit.

“We ought to do that on the House side as well, we ought to just stop cooperating with the Democrats,” Mr. Good said.

“It is clear that the DOJ is colluding with this New York court,” he added, citing the presence of Michael Colangelo—a former prosecutor at President Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ) who worked on the New York case—as well as the anti-Trump leanings of the judge who oversaw the case.

“We just can’t allow it to happen,” Mr. Good said.

Mr. Norman agreed, saying that the damage done to the country by the verdict is “irreparable” in many cases.

“It’s a new day now,” Mr. Norman added.

Lawmakers who didn’t commit to backing a congressional response were also critical of the verdict.

“Most people can’t even figure out what crime former President Trump was convicted of,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) told reporters. “So it just looks like such a sham.”

The sentiment was echoed by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), one of the most moderate members of the House Republican conference.

“I think it is destructive to the country,” Mr. Lawler told The Epoch Times of the verdict. “It undermines our electoral system and undermines the judicial system. And it further divides an already-divided country.

“Ultimately, the American people should be making the determination of who the next president is, not partisan political prosecutors from New York.”

Even as Republicans mull a response, they have few effective legislative avenues available to them.

Any bill making cuts to the DOJ or other federal law enforcement would need to get through the Democrat-controlled Senate as well as President Biden.

Republicans’ best opportunity to challenge Democrats on the issue will come in September, when 2025 government funding is due.

In the interim, Republicans have few options other than to continue their investigations into the matter and attempt to derail some Democrat legislative agenda items.

Samantha Flom contributed to this report.