Tied to Trump: New York DA’s actions have some Republicans rallying to the former president

After the 2022 midterm election, political observers thought many congressional Republicans would finally abandon former President Trump.

If anything, a pending indictment of the former president seemed to only solidify the resolve of many Republicans to align themselves with Mr. Trump. 

After he finally secured the Speaker’s gavel on the 15th ballot in a post-witching hour vote, the former president was one of the first people House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., thanked.

A cadre of House Republicans is now backing investigations into the 2020 election. Others want a probe into the January 6th riot and the treatment of 1/6 defendants. The release of additional video footage from Capitol security cameras reignited a debate about what went down on January 6th.

But word that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg may indict the former president really prompted House Republicans to close ranks around Mr. Trump.

“It’s very concerning,” said Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Tex. “I think that Kevin McCarthy will have an investigation on this.”

McCarthy infused the House into the prospective indictment of the former president shortly after Mr. Trump suggested that authorities would “arrest” him this past Tuesday. McCarthy quickly sent out a tweet asking the House to probe the motivations and potential communications by Bragg.

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By Monday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, demanded answers from Bragg about money spent on a possible prosecution. 

“The Federal District of New York (said) this wasn’t something they were going to pursue. The previous District Attorney (said) this is something they weren’t going to pursue. And even this District Attorney said (he) wasn’t going to pursue it. And then what happened? President Trump announces he’s running for re-election and, ‘Shazam!’, now we’re going to pursue it,” thundered Jordan.

Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., sought two audiences with former President Trump in recent days – including a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. Alford’s view of Mr. Trump is emblematic of Republicans who stand foursquare behind the former president. 

“We need the president back behind that Resolute Desk. Who’s going to take control? Who’s going to steer us to greatness?” asked Alford. “I think President Trump is going to do that. I think (the possible…