House Republicans aim to halt funding for Trump prosecutions via appropriations process.
House Republicans Target Criminal Investigations into Former President Donald Trump
House Republicans are exploring various strategies to address the ongoing criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump. One lawmaker, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), plans to leverage the annual appropriations process to defund these prosecutions as Congress reconvenes next month.
Rep. Clyde intends to introduce two amendments aimed at prohibiting the use of funds for the prosecution of any major presidential candidate leading up to the 2024 election. One amendment would restrict funds for federal prosecutions, while the other would target state prosecutions. These measures are part of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, one of the 12 spending bills that Congress must pass by September 30 to fund the government.
“Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars have no place funding the radical Left’s nefarious election interference efforts,” Clyde stated, specifically referencing Trump’s four criminal cases. “These bogus charges are undoubtedly intended to smear and take down President Trump, as well as hinder his ability to campaign effectively. This overt election interference continues to undermine both our Republic and our fair system of justice.”
Former President Trump currently faces 91 criminal charges across four investigations, which he and his GOP allies on Capitol Hill have dismissed as partisan endeavors. The charges range from falsifying business records to obstruction related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Rep. Clyde emphasized the importance of Congress using its power of the purse to safeguard the integrity of elections and prevent prosecutors from targeting top presidential candidates.
“The American people get to decide who wins the White House — not Deep State actors who have shamelessly attacked Donald Trump since he announced his first bid in 2015,” he asserted.
While the specific language for the amendments has yet to be drafted, Rep. Clyde plans to introduce the legislation during the House Appropriations Committee’s CJS markup in September.
The level of support these amendments will receive among House Republicans remains uncertain. Nevertheless, they represent the latest endeavor to incorporate conservative priorities into the annual spending bills.
Congress must pass its budget by the end of September before the new fiscal year commences on October 1, or else a government shutdown looms. Budget disagreements often prolong as both parties vie for their legislative priorities, with a final agreement typically reached at the eleventh hour.
Before the August recess, the House managed to pass only one of the 12 spending bills. With House lawmakers returning on September 12, they have a mere 18 days to pass a budget.
Typically, lawmakers agree to a continuing resolution that maintains current spending levels until a broader agreement is reached. However, some staunch conservatives have already dismissed this approach, stating that they are not concerned about a government shutdown if it means passing a more conservative budget.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus have pledged not to support a stopgap spending measure unless it is tied to several policy victories. This sets the stage for a contentious battle with GOP leadership. Their demands include passing the House GOP border security bill, addressing the “unprecedented weaponization” of the Justice Department, and ending the implementation of “cancerous woke policies” at the Pentagon.
“Any support for a ‘clean’ Continuing Resolution would be an affirmation of the current FY 2023 spending level grossly increased by the lame-duck December 2022 omnibus spending bill that we all vehemently opposed just seven months ago,” caucus members wrote in a letter outlining their stance.
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