Staff Reports
Vivek Ramaswamy, a GOP presidential candidate, has boldly affirmed his commitment to voting for former President Donald Trump, even if Trump is convicted and the Republican nominee. In an interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” Ramaswamy addressed concerns about a convicted felon serving as president by dismissing Trump’s legal cases as politically motivated. He argued against the “administrative police state” using force to eliminate opponents and stated, “That’s not the way it works.”
When questioned by George Stephanopoulos about his reasons for supporting Trump, Ramaswamy stood firm, explaining that if Trump becomes the nominee, he would support him because he believes Trump or any Republican nominee would be better than the alternative. Although he acknowledged the possibility of pardoning Trump as president, Ramaswamy emphasized that such action falls secondary to his goal of uniting the country.
Ramaswamy, who has experienced a recent surge in the polls following the first GOP debate, faced attacks from other Republican candidates questioning his positions on Ukraine, Israel, and other topics. President Trump himself has pleaded not guilty to charges brought against him in various local and federal cases. He characterized the legal proceedings as politically biased and lamented the damage being done to the country. Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, also pleaded not guilty and has requested a postponement of his arraignment hearing.
The charges against Trump and his associates range from alleged election-related actions to falsifying business records and mishandling classified documents. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis plans to try Trump, Giuliani, and other co-defendants together, but legal arguments over trial conditions and locations have already commenced. As these cases unfold, the GOP remains divided on the future of Donald Trump and his potential influence on the party.
