19 ex-House Republicans urge courts to resolve Trump issues 'as soon as possible'

While House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and other House Republicans have been rushing to Donald Trump's defense, some former House Republicans are vehement critics of the former president. And 19 of them speak out in an open letter to the courts — including the U.S. Supreme Court — published by the conservative website The Bulwark on January 9.

The authors of the letter include former Reps. Barbara Comstock (R-Virginia), Adam Kinzinger (R-Illinois),

Charlie Dent (R-Pennsylvania), Joe Walsh (R-Illinois), David Jolly (R-Florida) and other Never Trump conservatives who make it clear that they take Trump's legal problems seriously. And they urge the courts, especially the U.S. Supreme Court, to resolve Trump-related matters "as soon as possible."

"'Equal justice before the law' is a bedrock principle of our legal system and our democracy," the conservative ex-lawmakers write. "It is rooted in a fundamental proposition of this country's founding: That we are a nation of laws, not of men, and accordingly, no man is above the law. As former members of Congress, all of us Republicans, we dedicated ourselves to upholding this principle. And we are now deeply concerned that former President Donald Trump's response to the ongoing criminal prosecutions against him are testing it — requiring the U.S. Supreme Court to act swiftly to meet the moment."

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The conservatives continue, "In no case is this more true than in special counsel Jack Smith's prosecution of Trump for his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. In this case, the federal courts are confronted with Trump's gambit to escape accountability altogether: assert an unprecedented claim of absolute presidential immunity from criminal prosecution and use the appellate process to delay the trial until after the November election. The accusations against Trump are grave. A grand jury charged him with conspiring to overturn the election and deprive millions of Americans of the right to have their votes counted."

The former lawmakers stress that Trump is "entitled to this day in court" and "a fair trial" but also stress that he isn't above the law. And they call out the former president's efforts to delay his trials.

"The public should have the benefit of the evidence presented during trial — and by Trump in his defense — and Trump should be judged by a jury of his peers," the 19 conservatives argue. "That may not be in the former president's political interests, but it is in the nation's best interest…. We recognize that the Supreme Court is now facing the prospect of multiple extraordinary cases involving the former president, including one raising critical questions about whether he is constitutionally disqualified from holding office again. This moment in our history demands that the Court rise to the occasion. If necessary, it can and should decide both questions — whether Trump may appear on the ballot in the upcoming election as well whether he is subject to criminal prosecution — as quickly as possible."

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Read the 19 former House Republicans' full letter at this link.