Jason Smith, Missouri's U.S. Senators, back Trump

Southeast Missouri U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and longtime supporter of Donald Trump, remains fully in the former president's corner as Trump faces his expected arraignment Tuesday, April 4, on still-unspecified charges.

Joining Smith in unstinting support for Trump are Missouri's two U.S. Senators: Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt.

Trump, the nation's 45th president, was indicted Thursday, March 30, in a case widely believed to be related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels — although no details have been released about the exact nature of the indictment returned by a grand jury empaneled by New York City District Attorney Alvin Bragg,

All three Missouri lawmakers have released statements on Twitter.

Jason Smith

Jason Smith

Josh Hawley

Josh Hawley

Eric Schmitt

Eric Schmitt

• "NYC DA Alvin Bragg's case has only been about one thing from the start — targeting President Donald Trump for political gain. Bragg's case is so questionable that any respected prosecutor would have long since walked away. The truth will be exposed in the days and months ahead," wrote Smith, 42, whose 8th District takes in 28 southern and southeastern Missouri counties.
• "(The) indictment of Donald Trump isn't about the law. It's about power. Raw power. It's the Democrat Party telling the nation they will stop at nothing to control the outcome of the next presidential election. It is an assault on our democracy, pure and simple," noted Josh Hawley, 43, Missouri's senior senator.
• "This is purely a partisan case against President Trump. (Billionaire businessman George) Soros and DA Bragg campaigned on prosecuting President Trump, while violent crime in NYC rages on & violent criminals walk free. This is a political prosecution in search of a crime & sets a dangerous precedent going forward," said the 47-year-old Schmitt, who took office in January after serving as Missouri's attorney general since 2018.

What's next

Trump is expected to surrender to the Manhattan district attorney with arraignment to follow, according to Trump attorneys Susan Necheles and Joe Tacopina.

"President Trump has been indicted. He did not commit any crime. We will vigorously fight this political prosecution in Court," Necheles and Tacopina said in a joint statement.