Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski told HuffPost in no uncertain terms that she thinks Republicans attending the Trump trial this week are out of their minds.
“Do we have something to do around here other than watch a stupid porn trial? I mean, this is ridiculous,” Murkowski was quoted as saying, in response to a question about the attendance of some lawmakers at the trial taking place in Manhattan.
House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana is among those who traveled to New York to observe the proceedings, in which former President Donald Trump is accused of paying porn star Stormy Daniels “hush money” through his former lawyer Michael Cohen. (Johnson has endorsed Nancy Dahlstrom for Congress for Alaska.)
Also spotted in the courtroom have been Sens. JD Vance of Ohio, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, and Floridians Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Byron Donalds. Vivek Ramaswamy, a business entrepreneur who ran for president, has been providing commentary to reporters outside the court building in Manhattan. While Trump has been muzzled by the court, these high-profile visitors are under no such gag order. (Donalds and Ramaswamy have endorsed Nick Begich for Congress for Alaska’s 2024 race.)
This trial is the first time in American history a former president has been criminally charged, and it’s one of Trump’s many legal travails he is facing this year as he makes another bid for president.
More Republican senators could join Trump in the courtroom, including Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri.
Trump is leading President Joe Biden in many polls, including in swing states such as Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and Pennsylvania, according to the latest New York Times/Sienna poll. Biden leads in just one swing state: Wisconsin, but even there, it’s a dead heat.
In Alaska, Trump is leading in all polls, but Murkowski is not a fan of his and has hinted she may leave the Republican Party over it.
