Donald Trump hailed as 'number one' presidential candidate in 2024 election by Republican House members

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: The Republican House members have openly voiced their support on Thursday, May 16, for Donald Trump as he faces 34 counts of falsifying business records. 

“​​We saw today firsthand, Mr. Cohen admitted repeatedly that he lied… He admitted repeatedly that he did so for his own personal interest. That tells you everything you know about the lack of credibility of this case,” Arizona Representative Andy Biggs said outside the Manhattan courthouse Thursday morning during a press conference held by the GOP lawmakers. 

Representatives Biggs, Bob Good, Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna, Mike Waltz, Ralph Norman, Lauren Boebert, Andy Ogles, Diana Harshbarger, Michael Cloud, and Eli Crane, all spoke at the press conference Thursday morning. 

Mike Waltz insinuates US judiciary to be weaponized by Democrats

“I've served all over the world in Africa, the Middle East, and South America. And … those are the types of countries where they weaponize the judicial system against their political opponents,” Waltz said according to Fox News.

“Every prime minister of Pakistan knows if they lose to the other side, they're going to get put in jail. Is this what we want America to become? This is what we're becoming,” he added.

Lauren Boebert takes a dig at 'radical left'

“The radical left wants President Trump to simply go away. And if President Trump just went away, this would all go away as well," Boebert said. 

"They do not want him to be in this race. They know that he is the number one candidate for president of the United States in the 2024 election. And they are doing everything that they can to interfere in yet another election,” she added.

The former president has recently witnessed several GOP lawmakers and politicians join him in support at the courthouse this week, including Representative Byron Donalds, Senator JD Vance, and former 2024 contender Vivek Ramaswamy.

Michael Cohen considered becoming a White House Chief of Staff to feed his 'ego'

Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen said on Thursday in court that he would have liked to have been considered to fill the role of Chief of Staff at the White House during Trump's tenure for "ego purposes." Cohen's comment on the matter came during questioning from Trump lawyer Todd Blanche following a brief break.

Blanche then directed Cohen's attention to past remarks he made to Congress, in which he said he didn’t want to work in the White House. Cohen agreed when he remembered making those remarks. 

Cohen, who testified on Thursday that he was offered a role in the White House, said he didn’t want to go to the White House and wanted to serve as Trump’s personal attorney. When asked if he wanted to work in the White House, Cohen responded, “No sir.”

Blanche then asked Cohen if he had hoped to be named the White House Chief of Staff, to which he denied.

Blanche then outlined several conversations Cohen had with other individuals, including his daughter, about the possibility of serving as Chief of Staff under Trump.

Cohen, who testified that he spoke with Trump about serving as his personal attorney, said he wanted a hybrid position, one with access to Trump but not considered a White House employee.