Southwest Floridians react to Trump’s indictment

A criminal indictment against a former president is something unheard of. Despite all this, Donald Trump has his eyes on the White House in 2024.

He’s got his critics, but the former president also has a lot of supporters who don’t think this indictment is anything to worry about. They’re offering a wide range of opinions and emotions.

“Everything that’s going on with Biden and his son, but no one cares about that,” said Tammy Steele, of Cape Coral.

Steele is fired up and unafraid to show it. She hates​ to see the word “Indictment” next to former
President Donald Trump’s name.

“This country is screwed because, you know, to be able to do something like that after all these years on such a petty thing, when so much other crime is committed, and they’re worried about this, so just so afraid of him, and they will do anything they can so that he can’t run?”

“Oh, it was about time. Absolutely. I feel like he was a criminal this entire time,” said Stephanie Santos.

Santos is all for the indictment and proud of the Manhattan district attorney. She believes, and others argue, no one is above the law, including former presidents. “I hope that it serves as an example of what happens when you try to get away with criminal activity. It catches up to you.”

Steele believes that’s not even close to true and fears the indictment is a sign of things to come. “I think that if we can’t get this country back to the way it was that we’re in big trouble because we need a strong leader, and we don’t have that. And you don’t even have to like Trump. To be able to do something like this to a person you hate, that just shows where our country is headed.”

Even those who support criminal charges against Trump said the lack of respect of people, no matter what side of the aisle they’re on, is a problem.

“I don’t think the presidency means as much as it used to when we were younger,” said Tim and Danielle Thomas. “Because when I was in my early teens and 20s, you had Reagan and Bush, and everybody respected the presidency. And nowadays, it doesn’t seem to be the same as it was.”

“This is a violation of the rule of law, something that is exceedingly dangerous to the united states,” said Mario Diaz Balart, a Republican congressman for Florida’s 26th District.

Congressman Balart represents part of Collier County. He believes what’s happening to Trump is wrong.

“This indictment has no precedent in the history of our country. But we’re seeing this kind of effort time and time again by the radical wealth left in D.C. and in certain states,” Balart said.

“Donald Trump is going to have plenty of opportunities to make his case in open court.” Democrats like Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts believe the indictment proves no one is above the law.

Congressman Byron Donalds, who represents part of Collier and most of Lee County, said the charges against the former president set a precedent that political prosecutions are OK. “This is not about the law. This is not about justice.”

Are Republican lawmakers planning to fire back?

“I don’t anticipate that we’re going to allow that to occur. And so we’re gonna get to the bottom of this as well,” said Donalds.

Look for the GOP-controlled House of Representatives to launch an investigation into how the indictment came about.

In a tweet Friday, Senator Marco Rubio called the prosecutor a Marxist, soft-on-crime DA, setting a dangerous new precedent in America.

Rick Scott said Democrats are destroying the fabric of this country and using the law to advance their agenda.

A political analyst said while there may be a divide among parties, the United States will survive this, and maybe it’ll bring us closer together.