GOP lawmakers show support for Trump outside DA Alvin Bragg's falsified business records trial

A large group of GOP lawmakers joined Trump at the Manhattan courthouse on Thursday where DA Alvin Bragg’s falsified business records trial against Trump continues. This group included Reps. Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna, Lauren Boebert, Bob Good, and others. 

Speaking outside the courthouse, Gaetz said there is "literally no branch of government that Michael Cohen has not lied to." Former Trump attorney Cohen returned to the stand on Thursday to testify in the trial on the alleged payment he made to porn star Stormy Daniels. The prosecution alleges that Trump reimbursed Cohen for this payment and marked the payments as legal fees." 

"He lied to investigators. He lied to the judge who sentenced him. He lied to the United States Congress. And he committed these lies for his own benefit." 

Gaetz added that "we would be remiss if we did not mention this corrupt judge, this judge whose own family is making six figures off of Democrat politics that continues to gaslight the country that there’s some sort of crime committed by President Trump." 

"We’re here voluntarily supporting our friend, President Trump, the leader of our movement, the leader of our party, and soon again, the leader of this great nation." 

Good told reporters that "we’re seeing today what lengths the Democrat Party will go to try to rig or steal another election. They tried to do it in 2020, they’re doing it again here in 24 by trying to keep the nominee of the ballot, by trying to keep the nominee from campaigning, by trying to ruin the nominee financially." 

Rep. Andy Biggs called the trial a "sham," saying that Cohen "admitted repeatedly that he lied" and that he "did so for his own personal interest. That tells you everything you need to know about the lack of credibility of this case." 

Biggs noted Judge Juan Merchan’s daughter, Loren Merchan, is making "literally a $100,000 at least, because she’s going around, using this trial to raise money for Democrats." 

Rep. Luna criticized the fact that cameras aren’t allowed in the courtroom for the trial, saying "if they had nothing to hide and they’re truly being honest about this, why is it that you guys can’t be in the courtroom and see exactly what we’re saying." 

"Just because we’re members of Congress does not mean we have authority more than you guys to know exactly what’s happening in that courtroom." 

She gave an update on Trump in the courtroom, saying "he’s in good spirits." 

Rep. Michael Cloud said, "we are here simply because Biden can’t get the inflation numbers down. He can’t get the crime numbers down. He can’t get the numbers of illegal aliens, terrorists even, crossing our borders down. So, what’s he going to do? He’s going to do everything he can to take down his political opponent." 

"How’s he going to do that? Well, we all know that the Biden team knows that they’re not going to be able to win this election by doing the Biden basement tour again," he continued, noting the massive turnout Trump had at a New Jersey rally over the weekend. 

"The American people definitely see through this. They’re not buying it this time." 

Rep. Eli Crane told reporters, "Even people that hated President Trump’s guts are seeing how rigged and messed up this system is. And they know if it can happen to him, it can happen to them." 

Lauren Boebert told reporters that "the radical left wants President Trump to simply go away," but declared that "I have news for the radical left and the weaponized DOJ: President Trump is not going anywhere. He’s coming back for another four years, and we are not going anywhere either. We are here to stand with him as he stands up for you, the American people." 

"He has laid everything on the line to defend our great nation, and I’m so grateful for him." 

When the press conference concluded, Boebert returned to the microphone briefly to tell reporters, "I want all of the news to start asking the question: What is the crime? Because everyone in this court has not been informed of what the crime is. The defendant does not know the crime that was committed."