Former National Security Adviser John Bolton voiced concern that the indictment of former President Donald Trump could act as “rocket fuel” for his 2024 campaign and propel him to the White House.
“I’m not worried about Alvin Bragg hurting Donald Trump,” Bolton told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday following news of the indictment.
“I’m worried about Alvin Bragg benefiting Donald Trump,” he admitted.
“If Trump is acquitted or he gets the case dismissed because it’s not legally sufficient or for whatever reason, that will be rocket fuel, because he can say, ‘I told you it was a political prosecution, I told you I was being picked on, and now I’ve been vindicated,'” Bolton added.
However, Bolton said if Trump is convicted after his indictment, it will hurt his presidential bid.
“If he’s convicted, however, at some point before the campaign ends, I think that will have a very different impact on people,” Bolton said.
“If he’s convicted of a crime, I think most Americans actually don’t want a convicted felon to be their president,” he added.
While the specific charges against Trump remain under seal, they are believed to be related to alleged ‘hush money’ payments of $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
Trump blasted Bragg and New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan on Truth Social:
“The Corrupt D.A. has no case. What he does have is a venue where it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to get a Fair Trial (it must be changed!), and a Trump-Hating Judge, hand selected by the Soros backed D.A. (he must be changed!),” Trump wrote.
Another issue that could hurt Trump’s 2024 campaign is the possibility of a gag order on him as the case awaits trial.
According to a source close to the former president’s legal team, the judge would take an “unprecedented step” to silence Trump.
“The Trump legal team now thinks that the Manhattan judge will take the unprecedented step of silencing the presidential frontrunner with an unconstitutional gag order tomorrow,” the source said.
“The Trump legal team is considering adding a First Amendment lawyer to the effort to combat this and will fight it all the way,” the source added.
Meanwhile, Trump has been raging in the polls since the news broke of his indictment.
As The Daily Fetched reported last week, New post-indictment poll data showed Trump commanding a blistering lead in the GOP primary and over Joe Biden in a likely general election matchup.
More voters in both primary and general elections say they would likely vote for Trump after his indictment.
The poll from Trump’s pollster John McLaughlin, one of the best GOP pollsters in the business, gathered in-depth post-indictment data following reports that Trump was indicted.
The Trump campaign also raised an eye watering $4 million within the first 24 hours from the news of the indictment.
The news came amid warnings to Trump’s opponents that his indictment would help his campaign.
READ: John Bolton Says He Will Run for President in 2024 to “Stop Trump”
