Multiple investigations into Donald Trump from various agencies should be allowed to go forward without interruption from Congressional Republicans, most voters say.
However, Republican voters (even non-MAGA voters) think that it’s more important now than ever to remain loyal to the former president.
That’s according to a new poll from CBS News out this morning. In it, respondents from across the political spectrum say that it’s important for the investigations against Trump to be allowed to proceed. Two-thirds of those voters want Congress to stop interfering, which appears on the face of it to favor the agencies that are investigating Trump.
Via CBS News:
While the partisan splits on these issues are predictable, with Democrats and liberals much more inclined to seek charges, not all Republicans are minimizing these allegations. In fact, about half of Republicans say at least one of the four tested is serious enough to bring charges with sufficient evidence.
The country is more divided over what the New York indictment earlier this month means to them. A slim majority say it means that no one is above the law, not even a former president, but nearly as many say it means the legal system has become too political instead.
Independents split nearly evenly on this question, with their views depending on how serious they consider the allegations of falsifying business records.
Here’s a breakdown of what voters are saying the role Congress should be here:
However, multiple sources for the Republican Party and the Democratic Party in 2021 had internal polling showing that Americans wanted Congress to continue investigating the January 6 riot at the nation’s capitol. But at the time, the parties interpreted that data differently, which may play out the same way now.
Based on that internal polling in 2021, Republicans estimated that the reason voters wanted Congress to continue that investigation was so they could wrap it up and move on. The theory was that voters were burned out by it and didn’t want to linger on it for much longer. So, Glenn Youngkin’s campaign avoided Trump, suspecting voter burnout.
The Democrats, meanwhile, interpreted that to mean voters really cared about it and wanted Trump to be taken down. So they focused the Virginia gubernatorial campaign that year on tying Youngkin to Trump.
Well… you see how that worked out.
The CBS News poll this morning could mean the same thing. Voters want Congressional Republicans to leave it alone so the investigations can come and go and America can move on. If that’s the case, maybe it’s not the worst idea for the Republican Party to support Trump, but let it play out.
Another interesting data point from CBS focused on Republican voters and their feelings toward Trump.
It’s a clear indicator that Trump’s legal issues are being seen as a political attack using the justice system. It’s not necessarily that voters are more prepared to support Trump in 2024 than they were – it’s just that they feel inclined to support him against Alvin Bragg, the Department of Justice, etc.
There is very clearly a call for these investigations to proceed, and I think deep down that even Republican voters wish to see this play out. It’s just that Republicans feel more inclined to think that this, too, shall pass and the Democrats think the walls are finally closing in.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member