Tennessee U.S. Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) and Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) were among 11 Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives who traveled to New York on Thursday to support former President Donald Trump in his hush money trial.
While speaking to reporters outside of the Manhattan courthouse, Harshbarger called the trial involving Trump “the persecution of a patriot,” saying, “We’re watching in real time the Biden Administration’s Department of Justice interfere in a case that should have never been brought in the first place.”
Throwing political opponents in prison is something only done in totalitarian countries.
It is un-American to the core. That's why I went to New York today to support President Trump and protest all of these sham trials against him.
Watching User Clip: Diana Harshbarger @CSPAN…
— Rep. Diana Harshbarger (@RepHarshbarger) May 16, 2024
“Throwing political opponents in prison is something only done in totalitarian countries. It is un-American to the core. That’s why I went to New York today to support President Trump and protest all of these sham trials against him,” Harshbarger added in an X post.
Ogles also spoke to reporters in front of the courthouse, saying, “If I started a story with a convicted felon and a hooker walked into a bar, you would immediately know it’s a joke. That’s what we have here. A joke of a trial.”
This is a joke of a trial. It’s not a prosecution; it’s a persecution. pic.twitter.com/I2lngqMFEP
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) May 16, 2024
“This is not a prosecution. This is a persecution. We have a two tiered justice system in this country. If a former president can be targeted by a woke and corrupt judge, then you can be targeted as well. Mr. President, we’ve got your back,” Ogles added.
The two Tennessee representatives were joined in attending the trial on Thursday by Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Lauren Boebert (R-CO-03), Michael Cloud (R-TX-27), Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), Matt Gaetz (R-FL-01), Bob Good (R-VA-05), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL-13), Ralph Norman (R-SC-05), and Mike Waltz (R-FL-06).
On Thursday, Ogles also announced the introduction of a bill he filed in support of the former president and other defendants in criminal and civil proceedings, called the Let Trump Speak Act.
The bill, filed as H.R.8410, would prohibit judges from issuing gag orders to defendants – including Trump – in any criminal or civil proceeding.
Harshbarger is listed as a cosponsor of Ogles’ bill.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “House of Representatives in New York” by Jason Miller.
As a Constituent. I am so pleased to see my Representative Andy Ogles in NYC standing up for the best US President since Andrew Jackson (Father of the Democrat Party, which has been hijacked by Totalitarians, the opposite of what the DNC is today & Abraham Lincoln ( a Republican who risked it all to defend Freedom for all).
It’s not easy to up against the Tyranny running America today. Past Congresses have increased spending like drunken sailors. Everytime more money is taken out of the pockets of the Middle Class, more Jobs are created in Federal Government. When the Federal Government grows it becomes a monster. Our Founders warned us of that. We pay the salaries of Millions of Federal employees in Federal Government, whose jobs are designed to take away our freedoms. They add
Regulations which take away freedoms & more money from small business owners. It discourages risk taking & entrepreneurs.
Then top that off with the INFLATION TAX on the Midfle Class & increased INTEREST RATES, the intent is clearly to destroy the Middle Class.
President Trump is the only Republican who is capable of defeating this EVIL. He deserves our support, respect for sacrificing his own freedom to protect us.
God Bless him & keep him safe. We are so lucky to have him.
I just saw where NATO us sending NATO troops to Ukraine to “TRAIN” what few soldiers they have left. We know that means our sons & daughters will be asked to fight for people they don’t know, while warriors are illegally entering our country by the 100s of thousands.
I’m retired & I can keep up with the daily travedties going on. Young people who are struggling for survival, are too distracted & the Corrupt Propaganda Media protects the EVIL from exposure.
Thank you to the Freedom Caucus Members who are taking the time to watch the Sham Show Trials & Persecution of a Political Opponent to Joe Biden, the 2nd most corrupt illegitimate President in US history. Barrack Hussein being the 1st mos corrupt illegitimate President.
Yes! We need President Trump’s voice on the only important issues of the day. Our closest ally Israel and the poor Jewish students in the US.