WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ohio’s members of Congress are weighing in on the news that former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a grand jury in Manhattan.
The charges have not yet been released, but it’s believed they are related to his alleged role in a hush money payment to an adult film star.
Immediately after the news surfaced on Thursday night, Ohio lawmakers started weighing in.
As of Friday afternoon, 10 of the state’s 17 members of Congress have released some type of statement. You can find them, in full, below:
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D): Has not publicly commented yet.
Sen. JD Vance (R): “Today’s indictment of President Trump is political persecution masquerading as law. Donald Trump is the former President of the United States, the leader of our nation’s political opposition, and the presumptive Republican nominee in 2024. Alvin Bragg’s decision to indict him is blatant election interference and a direct assault on the tens of millions of Americans who support him. To make matters worse, this entire charade is predicated on an unprecedented, doomed-to-fail legal theory and a baseless misdemeanor charge from seven years ago. While the radical left continues their obsession with harassing Donald Trump, the American people are suffering. Families are struggling to put food on the table, violent crime is running rampant in our cities, and thousands have been poisoned by the fentanyl pouring across our southern border. Instead of working to improve the lives of the Americans they are supposed to represent, the ruling party is focused on kneecapping their greatest threat in the next election. The American people will see this for exactly what it is: a grave miscarriage of justice."
Rep. Greg Landsman (D, Ohio’s 1st District): “Folks need to be done with Trump. He’s a chaos machine. This is one of a thousand things. From the Stormy Daniels thing to storming the Capitol, Trump only does chaos and extremism. The rest of us – Republicans, Democrats, Independents – we have to keep our attention on the actual work of leading this country: fixing our broken economy, getting wages up, costs down, keeping our children and families safe, restoring freedom, strengthening our democracy and voting rights. It’s a big list of serious issues, and this is where our focus has to be.”
Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R, Ohio’s 2nd District): Has not publicly commented yet.
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D, Ohio’s 3rd District): “In the months to come, let’s hope our judicial system does what it’s intended for — to deliver justice for ALL. Today shows that no person — not even a former President — is above the law!”
Rep. Jim Jordan (R, Ohio’s 4th District): “Outrageous.”
Rep. Bob Latta (R, Ohio’s 5th District): Has not publicly commented yet.
Rep. Bill Johnson (R, Ohio’s 6th District): “The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, rode into office stating he would not prosecute many non-violent crimes…the skyrocketing violence on New York City’s streets is the predictable result. Now, and obviously for political purposes, he is doing the opposite – bumping up what would be a misdemeanor into a felony charge. In America, no one should be above the law. However, the prosecution of a former President who is again a candidate is a blatantly political move and must be done only with extreme caution. Keep in mind that even federal prosecutors refused to bring this case to court. There are real consequences to choosing to prosecute a serious presidential candidate – especially given the partisan political smell coming from Mr. Bragg’s office.”
Rep. Max Miller (R, Ohio’s 7th District): “The American people should see this indictment for what it truly is: A politically motivated prosecution by a DA who is pursuing Donald Trump for political reasons.”
Rep. Warren Davidson (R, Ohio’s 8th District): “#StayFocused The @HouseGOP created a committee on weaponization of government for a reason. Time for #DeedsNotWords.”
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D, Ohio’s 9th District): Has not publicly commented yet.
Rep. Mike Turner (R, Ohio’s 10th District): Has not publicly commented yet.
Rep. Shontel Brown (D, Ohio’s 11th District): “Our commitment to justice is fundamental to our identity as Americans: no one is above the law. It is our responsibility as a democratic nation to hold people accountable for unlawful acts through our judicial system, and it is essential that the judicial process remain free from any form of interference.”
Rep. Troy Balderson (R, Ohio’s 12th District): “The American people are sick and tired of the political weaponization of the justice system in this country. It erodes trust in our institutions and is a distraction from the very real crime crisis wreaking havoc across America. This latest development is yet another example of Democrat politicians undermining our democracy.”
Rep. Emilia Sykes (D, Ohio’s 13th District): Has not publicly commented yet.
Rep. Dave Joyce (R, Ohio’s 14th District): Has not publicly commented yet.
Rep. Mike Carey (R, Ohio’s 15th District): “New York City’s crime rate increases every year, yet their corrupt District Attorney Alvin Bragg believes his time is best spent on a political witch hunt against President Trump. He’s making a mockery of our legal system. The people of NYC deserve better and the American voters deserve better.”