Hutchinson urges GOP to drop claim of DOJ weaponization against Trump.

GOP presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson urges fellow Republicans to reconsider their claims that the Department of Justice has been weaponized against former President Donald Trump. In an appearance on ABC News’s “This Week” with host Jonathan Karl, Hutchinson emphasizes that such arguments undermine law enforcement in the United States. He believes that Trump’s promise to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Biden family was the real “weaponization” of the DOJ. Hutchinson calls for Trump to drop out of the race and for the Republican party to prioritize the “rule of law.”

Hutchinson points out, “Look at Donald Trump. He’s already declared that if he’s elected president, he’s gonna appoint a special prosecutor to go after the Biden family. That’s called a weaponization of the Justice Department.”

He adds, “Let’s back off of these accusations and get back to being the party of the rule of law, of the justice system supporting law enforcement and the equal application of law. Let’s not undermine the greatest justice system and criminal justice system and rule of law in the world today, this side of heaven.”

Asa Hutchinson calls on his fellow Republicans to “back off” allegations that the DOJ has been “weaponized.”

“Let’s get back to being the party of the rule of law, of the justice system supporting law enforcement and the equal application of the law.” https://t.co/re0py9LGb0 pic.twitter.com/gf921PLUWv

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 18, 2023

In recent years, Republicans have accused the Department of Justice of being weaponized against Republicans, specifically Trump. The indictment in the federal investigation led by special prosecutor Jack Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, has only intensified these accusations.

To address the issue, House Republicans established the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government in January. The committee aims to investigate the “disparate treatment” from the DOJ. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), the committee’s chairman, highlights the DOJ’s actions against President Trump as a key factor behind its formation.

Jordan states, “Clinton mishandles classified information, Biden mishandles classified information, and they get treated a certain way. Then, of course, President Trump gets his home raided 91 days before this midterm election.”

During the interview with Karl, Hutchinson emphasizes that Trump should prioritize the “office of presidency and our country” over himself. Multiple polls indicate that Trump is leading the Republican field of candidates, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in second place.

Hutchinson asserts, “Whenever you have serious allegations against you, whenever you face multiple investigations during the next year, it’s not fair to the country and certainly not fair to the party that wants to get this country back on track.”