Donald Trump should drop out of White House race, Republican hopeful Asa Hutchinson says

By Nicole Greenberg

Former Arkansas governor attacks Trump over rule of law

In the wake of former President Donald Trump's statement that he is a target in special counsel Jack Smith's Jan. 6 investigation, fellow Republican presidential hopeful Asa Hutchinson is calling on the GOP front-runner to end his campaign for the White House.

"Anyone who truly loves this country and is willing to put the country over themselves would suspend their campaign for president of the United States immediately," Hutchinson said in a statement.

The comment from Hutchinson, who served as governor of Arkansas from 2015 to 2023, came a day after he told the National Press Club, "I believe that Donald Trump has done great harm to our rule of law in this country, and to federal law enforcement."

Trump "has undermined [federal law enforcement's] credibility in the eyes of the public. He has continued his victimization, and it has harmed our support from law enforcement and the confidence that Americans seem to have in the criminal justice system," Hutchinson said during Monday's speech.

Hutchinson's remarks echoed another notable Republican candidate. Chris Christie, the former Republican governor of New Jersey and frequent critic of Donald Trump, took issue with Trump's indictments.

"He's a liar and a coward," Christie said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. "He's not getting indicted for anyone other than because of his own conduct."

But on Saturday, Trump called the indictments "a great badge of honor." He told a Turning Point Action conference, "I am doing it for you. I am being indicted for you."

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On Monday, Hutchinson also presented eight key reforms he wants to implement in federal law enforcement, including removing drug offenses from the FBI's jurisdiction and requiring that the FBI record interviews.

Hutchinson said that, in light of criticisms of the FBI, reform is necessary, and "defunding the FBI is off the charts a bad idea."

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"Anyone who makes that argument is ignoring reality and weakens our law enforcement," Hutchinson continued.

In April, Trump called on Republicans to cut funding for the FBI and the Department of Justice. Trump's aggressive targeting of those agencies has been met with echoes from many in the Republican-led House of Representatives.

As Politico reported earlier this month, "That push against the FBI and DOJ will become a cornerstone of Republicans' agenda in a chaotic back half of the year," adding, "some conservatives who believe the agencies have targeted Republicans are eager to cut the law agencies' budgets."

Last Wednesday, Congressional Republicans criticized FBI Director Christopher Wray during a House Judiciary Committee, zeroing in on Wray's role in investigating Trump, in addition to concerns about how the FBI is addressing extremist violence and the bureau's use of surveillance technology.

Speaking generally about Republicans who have disparaged federal law enforcement, Hutchinson said, "It is not in the best tradition of my party, where we support the rule of law. We're the party of law and order."

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07-18-23 1204ET

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