Ramaswamy says Trump charged under 'most un-American statute in our history' — the Espionage Act

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on Sunday slammed the Espionage Act, which former President Donald Trump is charged under, as being the "most un-American" law in U.S. history.

Ramaswamy said on ABC News' "This Week" that he views the federal prosecutions of Trump over his alleged mishandling of classified documents and attempt to overturn the 2020 election as "unconstitutional."

While he disagrees with some of Trump's actions, "there’s a difference between a bad judgment and a crime," Ramaswamy also said. 

"The Presidential Records Act was nowhere mentioned in that 49-page indictment in the documents case. I think the Espionage Act, under which Trump was charged, is the most un-American statute in our history," Ramaswamy stated.

"So, no, would I have done the same thing and held onto those documents? No, I would not have. Do I think it's an illegal behavior under the Presidential Records Act and other statutes? No, I do not," he explained.

The 1917 Espionage Act is broadly used to crack down on activities that the government suspects involve the passing of information to U.S. enemies. Trump has called the charges against him related to the act "outrageous" and "vicious."

Ramaswamy acknowledged that his path to the presidency would be easier if Trump were not in the race, but he said he is still against seeing the former president eliminated from the race over the prosecutions he faces.

"It would be easier for me if Donald Trump were eliminated from competition. That is why it's particularly important for me to state with clarity that on principle, I’m still against seeing him eliminated that way, and that's why I have been so vocal about this," he also said. 

Trump and Ramaswamy have had a friendly relationship throughout the race. The former president even indicated last month that he would consider picking Ramaswamy as his 2024 running mate.

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