Jordan expects third Trump indictment will bolster support for former president

Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan on Thursday that the third indictment of former President Donald Trump would serve to bolster his support in the Republican primary and the 2024 presidential contest.

"I do think the end result, the takeaway is, I think this just strengthens, just hardens the support for President Trump and frankly expands it," he said during a Fox News appearance. "We’re saying, ‘We’re going to support President Trump... I think that’s the takeaway."

Trump appeared in a D.C. courthouse on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to four criminal counts, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, threatening constitutional rights, conspiring to obstruct an official proceeding, and obstruction of an official proceeding.

The former president currently holds a commanding lead in the Republican primary field, with nearest rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis trailing by an average 35.8%, according to RealClearPolitics.

Speaking after the arraignment, Trump told reporters that "[t]his is a very sad day for America and it was also very sad driving through Washington, D.C., and seeing the filth and decay... This is not the place that I left."

"This is a persecution of a political opponent," he continued. "This was never supposed to happen in America... I'm leading Biden by a lot... you can't beat him you persecute or you prosecute him."

Smith previously indicted Trump in a separate case involving his alleged mishandling of classified materials. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has also brought charges related to a 2016 payment his then-personal attorney, Michael Cohen, made to Stormy Daniels. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is also expected to soon announce charging decisions her probe of Trump's efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election in the Peach State.

Trump maintains his innocence and has contended that the litany of charges against him are the product of a longstanding and collective political witch hunt that seeks to derail his political prospects.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.