Updated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday with comments from Reps. Bush and Cleaver:
Missouri and Illinois Republicans harshly denounced in a case involving allegations of hush money payments to an adult film star.
The unprecedented indictment of a former president comes as Trump is running for the presidency for a third time 鈥� and hopes to maintain his hold on Missouri鈥檚 GOP faithful.
After several weeks of speculation about what the panel would decide, the New York Times and other media outlets reported Thursday that a New York citizens grand jury voted to indict Trump. The exact charges are not yet known, to adult film star Stormy Daniels to conceal an affair before the 2016 election.
Reaction to the news from Missouri and Illinois Republicans was swift.
U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt said in a statement that 鈥渢his is a purely partisan case against President Trump, plain and simple.鈥� He went on to say that the indictment is misplaced when 鈥渁ctual violent crimes in New York City go uncharged and violent criminals walk free.鈥�
鈥淭his is a political prosecution in search of a crime, and sets an extremely dangerous precedent going forward,鈥� Schmitt said.
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley echoed much of Schmitt鈥檚 sentiments in a tweet sent shortly after the revelation became public.
鈥淭onight鈥檚 indictment of Donald Trump isn鈥檛 about the law. It鈥檚 about power. Raw power,鈥� Hawley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the Democrat Party telling the nation they will stop at nothing to control the outcome of the next presidential election. It is an assault on our democracy, pure and simple.鈥�
U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, who represents a portion of Jefferson County, said District Attorney Alvin Bragg鈥檚 case has only been about one thing from the start 鈥� targeting Trump for political gain.
鈥淏ragg鈥檚 case is so questionable that any respected prosecutor would have long since walked away. The truth will be exposed in the days and months ahead,鈥� Smith said.
U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, Americans will see the indictment as a 鈥減olitical witch hunt.鈥�
And Rep. Mark Alford, R-Raymore, said in a tweet that Trump鈥檚 鈥渋ndictment is a direct undermining of our judicial institutions.鈥�
鈥淣ever before have we seen something like this,鈥� Alford said. 鈥淎nyone who tells you this is not political persecution is lying. What a joke!鈥�
Illinois Congresswoman Mary Miller, a staunch Trump ally who represents a portion of the Metro East, said in a statement "every American should be concerned about this blatant political weaponization of the justice system.鈥�
"The Left claims they stand for democracy, but they pursue bogus investigations to try and remove their political opponents from the ballot so voters cannot vote for the candidate of their choice, which is the definition of democracy,鈥� Miller said.
As of Friday morning, Republican Reps. Ann Wagner, Blaine Luetkemeyer and Sam Graves had not responded to requests for comment.
'No one is above the law 鈥� not even a former president'
Democrats who represent Missouri and Illinois were less critical in reacting to the news of Trump's indictment.
For instance: Congresswoman Cori Bush, D-St. Louis, said on Friday that Trump "should not only be indicted, he should be convicted."
"He needs to be held accountable for not only falsifying his business records, but for his blatantly lawless attacks on our democracy before, during, and after his time as white-supremacist-in-chief," Bush
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, emphasized that even though he does not personally like Mr. Trump or agree with his politics, "there is no jubilation here."
"This is a sad day for all Americans, as this is the first time a former president has been indicted in over 240 years of our Republic," Cleaver said. 鈥淣o matter how much one may like or dislike former President Donald Trump, he is innocent of all charges until convicted by a jury of his peers. I encourage all Americans to allow the legal process to play out peacefully and according to the rule of law.鈥�
Illinois Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Bragg must 鈥渂e allowed to continue his investigation without interference.鈥�
鈥淎ny attempt to undermine this process is contrary to the rule of law; and political violence or threats of violence cannot be tolerated,鈥� Durbin said. 鈥淎s this process continues, former President Trump should be afforded the due process protections that he is guaranteed by our Constitution, just like any other American. But no one is above the law 鈥� not even a former president.鈥�
Will Trump's sway over Missouri GOP last?
News of the indictment comes as Missouri Republicans mull their choices in the run-up to next year鈥檚 presidential primary.
Trump won Missouri鈥檚 electoral votes in landslides in 2016 and 2020, which resulted in big wins for the state鈥檚 GOP ticket up and down the ballot. The former president was especially popular in rural parts of the state, a major source of political power for Missouri Republicans.
Burlison in Springfield that state Republicans could suffer if the GOP nominates someone similar to John McCain or Mitt Romney in 2024.
鈥淭hey're not inspired by those kinds of candidates,鈥� Burlison said. 鈥淚 think that when you look at candidates like Trump, you have to recognize that here's a guy who didn't need to be president to be famous. When you look at other candidates, sometimes you wonder 鈥� are they really just trying to get the next rung on the ladder?"
But some state Republicans expressed unease about Trump鈥檚 third run for the presidency at Lincoln Days. They contend that Trump can鈥檛 win a general election, and therefore any boost to Missouri GOP candidates wouldn鈥檛 mean as much if Republicans can鈥檛 win the presidency.
While Schmitt has endorsed Trump鈥檚 third bid for the presidency, Hawley has stayed neutral so far. Jeff Roe, a Missouri native who runs one of the most prominent GOP consulting firms in the country, signed onto a political action
While polling has generally showed DeSantis a formidable threat to Trump鈥檚 path to the nomination, there鈥檚 conjecture that the indictment may actually boost the former president鈥檚 political prospects 鈥� especially if it creates sympathy among the GOP base.
That could be why some GOP statewide contenders, like and , issued statements condemning the grand jury's decision.
Still, Trump鈥檚 legal woes may not end in Manhattan. He鈥檚 also facing federal investigations regarding his handling of classified documents and the Jan. 6 insurrection. is looking into whether Trump interfered in the state鈥檚 2020 election.
