Oklahoma Congressional Delegation Members Defend Trump Against Federal Charges

Several members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation are coming to the defense of Donald Trump after learning the embattled former president has been indicted on federal charges related to his handling of classified documents.

The Justice Department unsealed the indictment Friday, revealing the details of the 37 charges it contains. Much of it centers on the allegation that the former president willfully retained national defense information, which is a violation of the Espionage Act.

Other charges include conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, and false statements.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing.

“I've done nothing wrong,” said Trump Thursday on his social media platform. “They figured the way they're gonna stop us is by using what's called warfare. That's what it is. This is warfare for the law.”

President Biden had no comment on the indictment Friday, but Thursday, before news of the indictment broke, he defended the independence of the Justice Department.

“I have never once, not one single time,” the President told reporters. “suggested to the Justice Department what they should do or not do to bring a charge or not bring a charge.”

Friday afternoon, shortly after unsealing the 49-page indictment, Special Counsel Jack Smith, who's leading the investigation, defended the integrity of his team's work.

“I would like to thank the dedicated public servants of the [FBI] with whom my office is conducting this investigation and who work tirelessly every day upholding the rule of law in our country,” Smith said. “We have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone.”

Republican leaders on the Hill here were quick to condemn the indictment as purely political and orchestrated by Democrats to try and undermine Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.

"The phony witch hunt against President Trump continues," said Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK2) in a statement, "This is the first time in American history that the federal government has indicted a president and it is a serious abuse of power by this Administration."

"It’s the kind of thing you typically see in corrupt autocracies and dictatorships," tweeted Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK1), "it’s chilling to see it happen in what used to be the freest nation in the world."

It was just over two months ago that Trump was indicted in New York over hush money payments made to an adult film star. The federal charges coming out now, surrounding the discovery of hundreds of classified documents at Trump’s Florida estate are considered more serious.

And, in a week when three more Republicans — including former Trump Vice President Mike Pence — formally entered the presidential race, not all Republicans felt compelled to immediately criticize the indictment.. as three of Oklahoma's seven did.

“Once again," said Markwayne Mullin, "the radical Left is weaponizing the Justice Department to attack the leading GOP candidate in the 2024 election cycle. I stand with President Trump.”

And this may not be the last time the former president’s supporters downplay or dismiss his legal troubles, as Trump remains the focus of additional investigations — state and federal —related to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.