After a civil judgment determined that former President Trump had sexually assaulted writer E. Jean Carroll and sentenced him to pay her $5 million in damages, Senate Republicans expressed worries about the former president’s chances of winning the presidency in 2024.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters that although he doesn’t think Trump has a chance in a general election, he also doesn’t think the outcome will influence voters.
I don’t believe it alters anyone’s opinions in any way. I believe that many who support President Trump do so sincerely. “I don’t think this will have any impact because people who don’t support President Trump don’t support him,” Cornyn added.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), a longtime opponent of Trump in the GOP, said the decision is further evidence that the 45th president is unable to serve as the party’s standard bearer once again.
“I hope the American people, the jury of the American people, reach the same conclusion as the jury of his peers, which is that Donald Trump should not be our nominee and he most certainly shouldn’t be president of the United States,” Romney added. “Someone who has been found to have committed sexual assault should not be the face of the Republican Party,” the speaker said. “We have other highly qualified individuals who could lead our party to victory.”
Romney said, “I believe that there will undoubtedly be some people who will say, “You know, I don’t think it’s a good idea to have someone who’s been convicted of sexual assault to be the face for my children and my grandkids and the globe.
“I have no idea who this woman is at all. A CONTINUATION OF THE GREATEST WITCH HUNT OF ALL TIME, THIS VERDICT IS A DISGRACE!, wrote Trump.
However, a few Senate Republicans choose not to comment on whether the most recent news would harm him in the approaching 2024 election.
“I believe the people should decide, unambiguously. They’ll choose what matters to them, said Republican senator from Florida Rick Scott, who will seek reelection in 2018.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said that he still thinks the former president will be the GOP’s choice for president and that the general election would be “interesting” if Trump is found guilty of sexual assault. Voters must balance that, he added, with the “continuing pileup of scandals from the Biden White House.”
The people decide on it, after all. If he weren’t [the candidate], I’d be quite astonished, Hawley added.
Trump’s staff has already declared their intention to challenge the judgment. When questioned over the jury’s Tuesday verdict, several Republicans leaned toward that strategy.
“We have the ruling, and he will file an appeal. I’m certain that there will be more, said Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). We’ll wait and see what the appeals procedure reveals.
