Current:Home > reviewsNew Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu says he doesn't see Trump indictment as "political" -Zenith Money Vision
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu says he doesn't see Trump indictment as "political"
View
Date:2025-04-16 01:01:43
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu pushed back on claims from fellow Republican lawmakers who have called the federal indictment against former President Donald Trump for his handling of classified documents politically motivated, saying it was "self-inflicted."
"I don't see this as being political," Sununu said in an interview with "Face the Nation" on Sunday. "The average person may still think it's political."
- Transcript: New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on "Face that Nation"
Trump is charged with 37 felony counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents after he left the White House in January 2021. In the indictment that was unsealed Friday, the Justice Department alleged Trump kept the classified documents in boxes stored at Mar-a-Lago, including in a bathroom and shower, a ballroom and his bedroom. The documents allegedly contained information on U.S. nuclear programs, potential vulnerabilities of the U.S. and its allies to a military attack and plans for potential retaliation in response to an attack, according to the indictment.
"The unauthorized disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods," the indictment said.
The former president, who denies any wrongdoing, is also alleged to have shown the classified documents to others who did not have a security clearance to be able to view them and also to have obstructed the National Archives and Records Administration and the Justice Department's efforts to recover the documents.
Sununu said that if even half of allegations in the indictment are true, then Trump has "a real problem."
"He had every chance in the world to hand all those files and documents back," Sununu said. "He did just the opposite. He bragged about keeping him. So this is very self-inflicted."
Sununu, who decided against running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, encouraged Trump's Republican opponents to rally together in condemning the former president.
"They have to come out and acknowledge this is different, this is serious," he said. "I just see too many of the candidates trying to walk around it — 'We'll see what happens.' … You're running against this guy. He's whopping you by 40 points. Everybody needs to come out in concert. So it's not just Chris Christie hitting Donald Trump. … It is a party message. That is very, very important because Donald Trump doesn't represent the Republican Party. He only represents himself."
Instead, Trump's 2024 challengers have largely criticized the Biden administration and the Justice Department.
Although Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seen as Trump's greatest rival, initally said the "weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society," he had more forceful words at a campaign event in North Carolina on Friday.
"Look when I was in Congress, I remember, you know, Hillary had the the emails with the classified, and my view was, well gee, you know, as a naval officer, if I would have taken classified to my apartment, I would have been court martialed in a New York minute," DeSantis said. "And yet they seem to not care about that. And is there a different standard for a Democrat Secretary of State versus a former Republican president? I think there needs to be one standard of justice in this country. Let's enforce it on everybody and make sure we all know the rules. You can't have one faction of society weaponizing the power of the state against factions that it doesn't like and that's what you see."
On Thursday, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina also slammed what he called the weaponization of the Justice Department. Former Vice President Mike Pence said it was sad day for the country. Nikki Haley, who served as U.N. ambassador under Trump, called it "prosecutorial overreach." And businessman Vivek Ramaswamy vowed to pardon Trump if he's elected.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie argued the alleged conduct shows Trump is not a formidable opponent to President Joe Biden, while former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson called on Trump to end his campaign.
Jake Rosen, Melissa Quinn, Robert Legare and Sarah Ewall-Wice contributed reporting.
- In:
- Chris Sununu
- Donald Trump
- United States Department of Justice
- Mar-a-Lago
Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital. Reach her at caitlin.yilek@cbsinteractive.com. Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hausofcait
TwitterveryGood! (3)
Related
- Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
- TNT honors Shannen Doherty with 'Charmed' marathon celebrating the 'best of Prue'
- 12-foot Skelly gets a pet dog: See Home Depot's 2024 Halloween line
- Teen girl rescued after getting trapped in sand hole at San Diego beach
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- Stellantis tells owners of over 24,000 hybrid minivans to park outdoors due to battery fire risk
- Travis Barker's Daughter Alabama Barker, 18, Admits She's Taking Weight-Loss Medication
- Trump’s convention notably downplays Jan. 6 and his lies about election fraud
- Intellectuals vs. The Internet
- Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, Francis Ford Coppola to receive Kennedy Center Honors
Ranking
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Surreal Life's Kim Zolciak and Chet Hanks Address Hookup Rumors
- Britney Spears slams Ozzy Osbourne, family for mocking her dance videos as 'sad'
- 2024 British Open tee times: When second round begins for golf's final major of 2024
- 'Most Whopper
- Usha Vance introduces RNC to husband JD Vance, who's still the most interesting person she's known
- Christian homeless shelter challenges Washington state law prohibiting anti-LGBTQ+ hiring practices
- Bob Newhart, sitcom star and deadpan comedy legend, dies at 94
Recommendation
Trump's 'stop
The Book Report: Washington Post critic Ron Charles (July 14)
Montana seeks to revive signature restrictions for ballot petitions, including on abortion rights
Shannen Doherty's Divorce From Ex Kurt Iswarienko Granted 2 Days After Her Death
Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
Bud Light slips again, falling behind Modelo and Michelob Ultra after boycott
Zach Edey injury update: Grizzlies rookie leaves game with ankle soreness after hot start
Recalled mushroom chocolates remain on some store shelves despite reported illnesses