Republicans Seek Revenge for Trump’s Guilty Verdict: Blocking Biden’s Agenda and Ramping Up Fundraising

Republican lawmakers are seeking revenge for the historic conviction of former President Donald Trump in a New York hush money case, which they’re calling a miscarriage of justice and a pointed political maneuver. In response to the guilty verdict, a cohort of conservative lawmakers in the Senate are pledging to stop all Democratic priorities and block Biden administration nominees from approval. Meanwhile, in the GOP-led House, lawmakers plan to interrogate Manhattan prosecutors, strip federal funding from New York, and defund the efforts of special counsel Jack Smith overseeing Trump’s classified documents case.

Despite the uphill battle they face in the Democratically-controlled Senate, the GOP’s loyalty to Trump remains steadfast, with efforts aimed at rallying support for his reelection bid. The campaign trail is already buzzing with activity, as the GOP’s donor platform, WinRed, saw a surge in traffic post-verdict, and both the Senate and House GOP campaign arms reported a spike in fundraising.

Candidates in competitive states are leveraging the conviction to their advantage, with new advertisements from GOP senate candidates in Montana and Ohio accusing their opponents of supporting a judicial strategy to interfere in the presidential election. Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri noted the fundraising jump and the impact of the conviction on the American people, framing the issue as a choice between a constitutional republic and a banana republic.

In the Senate, a group of conservative senators led by Sen. Mike Lee of Utah has pledged to block additional funding that doesn’t address national security, slow down confirmations of Biden’s nominees, and impede consideration of Democrat-led legislation. This blockade effort could pose a serious challenge for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, as every senator must agree to speed up the process for timely consideration of legislation and appointments.

In the House, Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan of Ohio is leading the charge to investigate the Manhattan prosecutors and restrict federal funding for the Justice Department and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana vowed to fight back within the confines of the rule of law, but the lower chamber’s ability to assist the former president is limited.

The conviction has sparked a surge in fundraising for Republicans, with the Trump campaign alone raising nearly $53 million in the 24 hours following the verdict. The National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee reported record-breaking online fundraising numbers, closing the financial gap with Democrats.

As the political fallout from Trump’s guilty verdict continues to unfold, both parties are gearing up for a contentious election cycle, with the conviction serving as a polarizing issue that could shape the outcome of key races across the country.