Trump was not happy.
Former President Donald Trump recently expressed frustration towards several Republican lawmakers following the failure of an amendment aimed at defunding criminal prosecutions of presidential candidates. The amendment, introduced by Georgia Representative Andrew Clyde, narrowly missed passage with a vote of 25-26 during deliberations on the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Bill.
In a scathing post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump singled out Idaho Representative Mike Simpson for voting against the amendment, which Trump described as a critical effort to prevent federal and state funds from being used for the prosecution of any presidential candidate prior to the 2024 election. Trump criticized Simpson, labeling his vote as “stupid” and expressing disappointment in other Republican members who failed to show up to vote, including Representatives David Valadao of California and Dan Newhouse of Washington, whom he referred to as “the only two remaining Impeachers in the House of President Donald J. Trump.”
The former president’s frustrations stem from ongoing legal challenges he faces, including federal trials related to allegations of mishandling classified documents post-presidency and attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Trump has also been involved in legal proceedings in Georgia concerning alleged interference in the 2020 election.
Despite believing that the cases against him are politically motivated, Trump underscored the significance of preventing the use of funds for such investigations. He argued that allowing these prosecutions to proceed would set a dangerous precedent, potentially limiting Republicans’ ability to investigate President Biden’s actions in the future.
In response to the amendment’s failure, Representative Clyde expressed determination to reintroduce it in the near future. He expressed disappointment in his colleagues who missed the vote, emphasizing his commitment to pursuing the amendment despite initial setbacks.
Looking ahead, the House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to revisit the CJS bill in September when members return to Washington, D.C. The outcome of this legislative effort will continue to be a focal point amidst ongoing political and legal challenges facing Donald Trump and the broader implications for presidential accountability.