As House Republicans once again appeared outside a New York courthouse in a show of support for former President Donald Trump at his criminal trial, the display offered an awkward split screen: House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (R-VA) standing next to his primary challenger, who many of his Republican colleagues have backed to defeat him.Â
Good stood alongside Virginia state Sen. John McGuire as a group of House Republicans spoke to reporters outside the Manhattan criminal court on Thursday in support of Trump, who has entered the fifth week of his hush money trial. The joint appearance comes as both candidates have sought to paint themselves as more hard-right than the other, with Trump’s support often crucial in such a tight primary.
“We’re seeing today what lengths the Democratic Party will go to [in order] to try to rig or steal another election,” Good said. “This is a crooked sham trial to try to hurt the nominee. He’s gonna be the president of the United States whether or not they like it or whether or not they want that to happen.”
McGuire was not part of the roster of congressional speakers but stood near the microphones. As Good and his colleagues wrapped up their defenses of Trump and started walking away, McGuire approached the cameras as if he wanted to speak but was turned away as the media started packing up. He did not give a public statement.
McGuire launched a bid against Good last year after the Virginia Republican threw his support behind Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) for the GOP presidential nomination over Trump. The challenge has shaped up to be one of the most contentious GOP primaries in the 2024 cycle, as several of his Republican colleagues are backing McGuire over Good. Trump has not endorsed in the primary.
Good was one of several GOP lawmakers who appeared at the courthouse on Thursday as he was joined by Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and Andy Ogles (R-TN). Their visit comes days after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) showed his support for Trump earlier this week, making him the highest-ranking Republican to appear at the courthouse to decry the criminal trial.
Johnson was joined by several other House Republicans, who sought to serve as a voice for the former president as he must comply with a gag order prohibiting him from criticizing witnesses.
“This gag order is to ensure that he cannot defend himself fairly,” Good said. “So we’re here to have his back. We’re here to defend him and to tell the truth.”
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The New York case focuses on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree and marks the first trial of a former president in U.S. history. The charges came shortly after Michael Cohen testified before a grand jury last year detailing his 2018 conviction when he pleaded guilty to paying two women who accused Trump of sexual affairs to be silent, including porn star Stormy Daniels.
As part of the scheme, Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 and was later reimbursed by the Trump Organization. Manhattan prosecutors later opened an investigation into whether Trump falsified business records to list the reimbursement as a legal expense.
