Republican leaders themselves are to blame for this quandary.

[kpete]

That’s because GOP lawmakers and influencers have, for six years, dismissed legitimate probes of grave crimes against the country — into very real Russian interference in the 2016 election, into Trump’s extraordinary assault on U.S. constitutional democracy, into his hoarding of state secrets — as a witch hunt perpetrated by the “deep state.”

Just after Jan. 6, genuine constitutional conservatives and scholars of democratic breakdown alike warned that the conduct of GOP leaders would be critical in determining whether rank-and-file Republican voters accepted the need to hold Trump accountable to preserve the rule of law.

.........

Republicans are now seemingly required to cast any and all law enforcement activity directed at Trump as inherently illegitimate. At the same time, McCarthy knows it’s politically lethal for his party to be associated with outbreaks of MAGA lawlessness or violence. So he’s calling for calm in response to any indictment — while simultaneously endorsing Trump’s claim that it can only be the result of a witch hunt against him.

That straddle is absurd and unsustainable. To paraphrase a great poet of responsibility and regret, if Republicans are now potentially stuck with a leading candidate for the 2024 nomination who is facing a criminal indictment — one they can’t even cite to persuade GOP voters it’s time to move on — it’s their own damn fault.

.............

Link to tweet

?s=20
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/20/mccarthy-protest-indictment-trump-stormy-daniels-maga/

[Kaleva]

1. People who didn't vote cause they didn't like Hillary share some of the blame

[IbogaProject]

2. If a few more had joined Mitt R during 2nd impechment

They could've avoided this if a few had stepped up and voted to convict. 51 votes would've banned T45 from Federal office for life. Toomey wasn't running again, I'm sure a few others could've taken one for the "team".