Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy said the case against former President Donald Trump for mishandling classified documents seems “almost a slam dunk.”
Consequently, Cassidy urged Trump to drop out of the 2024 GOP presidential primary — despite adding that he would vote for the former president.
He also predicted that Trump, weighted down by his legal problems, would lose to President Joe Biden, as indicated by current polling.
Cassidy made the comments in an interview Sunday with CNN.
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Cassidy said he could not comment on the other 91 counts against Trump, found in four indictments in both federal and state courts.
But, the senator added, federal prosecutor Jack Smith appears to have a “very strong case” against Trump, especially since Trump was heard on a recording talking about possessing documents that were still classified.
“If that is proven, then we may have a candidate for president who has been convicted of a crime,” said Cassidy. “I think Joe Biden needs to be replaced, but I don’t think Americans will vote for someone who has been convicted.”
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has repeatedly asserted that the cases against him have resulted from political witch hunts. GOP voters tend to agree. The former president retains a strong lead over his several closest GOP rivals.
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Cassidy admitted he would vote for whomever the Republicans choose next year, and did not qualify that by saying he would reject Trump for Biden.
Cassidy had told Axios in 2021 that he would not support Trump if he ran in 2024.
Despite coming from deep red Louisiana, Cassidy was one of seven GOP senators to vote for Trump’s second impeachment over the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
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