Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has led 28 Senate Republicans in sending a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, condemning what they describe as the "evisceration of the American judicial process" and the conviction of former President Donald Trump in Manhattan.

In their letter, Senator Paul and his colleagues argue that the conviction undermines constitutional protections and due process rights. "The conviction of President Trump in Manhattan is nothing short of the evisceration of the American judicial process," states the letter. The senators contend that Democrat prosecutors have compromised defendants' constitutional protections in their pursuit to imprison Trump.

The letter highlights concerns about due process violations, referencing the Fifth, Fourteenth, and Sixth Amendments. "Due process requires that a defendant be given notice, the opportunity to be heard, and a neutral decision-maker," it reads. The senators also express concerns about Judge Juan Merchan's impartiality due to his financial contributions to Democratic candidates and causes.

Further criticism is directed at how alleged misdemeanors related to business records were elevated to felonies. The senators argue that this was done under the pretext of these violations being connected to a second crime which remains unspecified even after the jury's verdict.

The letter also accuses the Biden Administration of complicity in undermining due process by not addressing perceived overreach by New York State prosecutor Alvin Bragg into federal election law jurisdiction. "Rather than call out prosecutors for carrying out the political persecution of Donald Trump, President Biden defended the case," asserts the letter.

Senator Paul was joined by Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Rick Scott (R-FL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tim Scott (R-SC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Marco Rubio (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), JD Vance (R-OH), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Katie Britt (R-AL), Mike Braun (R-IN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Hoeven (R-ND) Deb Fischer 9(R-NE) and Josh Hawley 9(R-MO).