RNC would back Donald Trump even if convicted, says Ronna McDaniel
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said the national party will back the 2024 GOP nominee, even if it’s a criminally convicted former President Donald Trump.
Trump faces four major criminal cases related to the 2020 election, Jan. 6, 2021, classified documents, and alleged hush money to a porn star.
“As party chair, I’m going to support who the voters choose,” McDaniel said on CNN. “And yes, if they choose Donald Trump.”
“The voters are looking at this, and they think there’s a two-tiered system of justice,” she said. “They don’t believe a lot of the things that are coming out of this, and they’re making these decisions and you’re seeing that reflected in the polls.”
McDaniel’s comments come amid some skepticism from within the GOP field over Trump’s legal issues.
Gov. Ron DeSantis warned a conviction against Trump would be politically “fatal” and that the party shouldn’t nominate the former president if convicted.
“I signed a pledge,” DeSantis said.
“Now, do I think somebody, under those circumstances, could get elected president? The answer is ‘no,’ that will not happen,” he said. “I think that Republican voters will understand that as we get closer to voting.”
“It would be fatal,” the governor said. “And I don’t think the party should nominate in that situation.”
“I don’t think it’s gonna come to that,” he said. “We’ll get the job done, like we need to.”
On standing behind the loyalty pledge he signed with the Republican Party, DeSantis said he’s not going to “pout” if the primary doesn’t go his way.
“That was, kind of, my rationale for doing it,” he said.
Over the weekend, Trump continued his criticism of the legal cases against him.
“I am the victim of a corrupt legal system that is being used by those surrounding Crooked Joe Biden, with his full knowledge & consent, to hurt, demean, and damage his Political Opponent, ME,” Trump said.
“A terrible precedent is being set, but so far, despite the vulgarity & viciousness of it all, it has driven my poll numbers to record numbers,” he said. “You see, the American people are MUCH smarter than Crooked Joe! They see what is going on with a Corrupt & Racist New York State A.G., and a Trump Hating Puppet Judge willing to do her dirty work, even as it takes him, and his reputation, to new levels of low.”
As it stands in late-November, Trump maintains a narrow lead over President Joe Biden and a hefty lead over the rest of the Republican presidential field.
