Statements on the indictment of former President Donald J. Trump

REP. BILL PASCRELL

“If published reports are accurate, that a former chief executive will soon be arrested for salacious crimes should disgust all Americans. But Mr. Trump’s impending arrest demonstrates that the rule of law endures in America, and no one is above the law. True rule of law demands that no person – no President, no senator, no congressmember – can stand above the statutes we live by. As we have seen in other countries, a great democracy can and will hold its leaders accountable when those individuals do wrong. A nation that cannot hold its leaders accountable cannot be made great again.

“The rule of law is in question only because Republican leaders have spent years relentlessly attacking it. Even now, using the blunt machinery of Congress, House Republican leaders are seeking to improperly influence our justice system and upend all investigations of Mr. Trump. An independent justice system cannot bend to bad behavior and this is precisely why the criminal indictment of Donald Trump is so important.

“Donald Trump is legally innocent until he is proven guilty. Let him receive a speedy fair trial and let justice be done. God bless America.”

U.S. SENATOR CORY BOOKER

“The bedrock of our legal system is the principle that justice applies to everyone equally. No one is above the law.

“This indictment isn’t a trivial matter. It means that a grand jury — an impartial group of citizens sworn by oath to perform their duties faithfully — has decided that there is enough evidence to charge former President Trump with committing a crime.

“And like every person charged with a serious crime, the former President has due process rights. He will have an opportunity to defend himself in a court of law before a jury of his peers.”

REP. DONALD NORCROSS

“The reported indictment of Donald Trump is a somber moment for America. We are a nation of laws and every citizen, including the former president, is entitled to a fair trial as provided by the Constitution.

“This news is not cause for celebration or condemnation. Instead, it’s a moment to have faith in the American judicial system and let the process play out in the courts.”

REP. ROBERT J. MENENDEZ

“I have faith in our legal system to handle former President Trump’s case without interference and with the seriousness it deserves.

“As the legal process plays out, we must continue to focus on doing the work of the American people.

“And that is exactly what Democrats will do.”

REPUBLICAN STATE CHAIRMAN BOB HUGIN

“Alvin Bragg has made a mockery of our justice system by allowing violent criminals to terrorize innocent New Yorkers daily, while engaging in a politically motivated prosecution of former President Trump. This clear abuse of power should be condemned by all Americans – regardless of party – who cherish the rule of law.”

DEMOCRATIC STATE CHAIRMAN LEROY JONES

“The indictment of a former President is unprecedented. The grand jurors reviewed the evidence and found that it warranted indictment, and I thank them for their service and their commitment to the legal process. We should remember that no matter how this concludes, the Republican Party has enabled and celebrated the former President’s attacks on democracy and his policies that punished working families.  New Jersey Democrats will continue to do what we always do — advocate for the middle class, protect reproductive freedom, and fight for a stronger and fairer New Jersey.”