Trump Losing Support Among Rank GOP Members Following Jan 6 Criminal Referral

Former President Donald Trump is losing support among congressional Republicans following the Jan. 6 House Committee's vote recommending the Justice Department bring criminal charges against him.

Only months after forming a coalition of support for the former president following the search of his Florida residence, Republicans seem to be backing away from their increasingly toxic party leader.

Noticeably, the dissolution of Trump's usual backers is not coming in the form of direct criticism toward the former president, but more so the in lack of public support being given by GOP Senators, especially Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"The entire nation knows who is responsible for that day," McConnell said in a statement, pointing the finger squarely at Trump in response to the House Jan. 6 committee referring four criminal charges against Trump to the Justice Department.

Monday's hearing of the Jan. 6 House Committee likely marks the end of the road for any congressional action meant to hold Trump accountable for the attack on the U.S. Capitol by hundreds of his supporters seeking to interrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

While the committee, composed of two Republican Trump critics and seven Democrats, has fought partisan labels throughout its investigation, it seems Monday's referral to the Justice Department may have helped dismantle this perception.

Several Senate Republicans lauded the credibility of the witnesses interviewed by the committee, adding that despite taking issue with the politicization of the panel, it did succeed in adding to the historical record in a substantial way.

The committee conducted a yearlong investigation that oversaw more than 1,000 witnesses, 10 televised public hearings, and over 1 million documents.

In conversation with the Hill, Republican Senators Jon Thune and Rob Portman both agreed that the committee's findings are important, even if the criminal referral was unnecessary.

"They did interview a lot of folks that had a lot of knowledge of what happened and they were people who I think were very credible," Thune told the Hill, adding that "It's up to Justice now."

Retiring Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio agreed with Thune, telling the Hill "I think the referrals are not as important as the report. The report's important, even though it came out of a partisan process."

"But the testimony is the testimony, and they were able to get the testimony from most of the people they wanted — not everybody but most — and I think most of the significant figures. That is the historical record," Portman explained. "That's very important."

The committee's criminal referral is non-binding, meaning Attorney General Merrick Garland and the DOJ are not required to take action on the request but will receive pressure to pursue an investigation.

Ever defiant, Trump released a statement on his Truth Social social media platform Monday decrying the criminal referral as "a partisan attempt to sideline me and the Republican Party." "These folks don't get it that when they come after me, people who love freedom rally around me. It strengthens me. What doesn't kill me makes me stronger," Trump added.

A month out from launching his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump is approaching his weakest political posture since he first entered the arena. He is now bracing for the long-awaited release of his tax returns and recently faced resounding criticism following his dinner with white supremacist Nick Fuentes and rapper Kanye West.

Worst of all, Trump is still licking his midterm-inflicted wounds, injured by paltry Republican performances capped off by the December runoff election loss by his handpicked Senate candidate, former NFL running back Herschel Walker.

It's impossible to know when, or if, the DOJ will make the historic decision to indict a former president and current candidate. One of the reasons Trump chose to announce his candidacy so early in the first place was to throw a wrench into possible criminal investigations.

Now, Trump's actions may be beginning to cost him. The Republican National Committee recently announced it would stop paying some of Trump's legal bills after he launched his 2024 presidential campaign. Republican challengers for the 2024 nomination are beginning to smell blood in the water.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who is considering a 2024 White House campaign, acknowledged Trump's role in the Jan. 6 attack but said the criminal referral "isn't helpful" to the DOJ's investigation.

Other potential 2024 challengers include rising Republican stars Glenn Youngkin and Ron DeSantis, both recently reelected governors, and Trump's two-time running mate and former Vice President Mike Pence.