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House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said Wednesday that "justice should be blind," distancing himself from President Trump's criticism of the Justice Department for the Republican congressmen ahead of midterm elections.
Earlier this week, Trump Attacked Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Justice Department in connection with the unrelated indictments of Reps. Chris Collins (N.Y.) and Duncan D. Hunter (Calif.), The president's two earliest congressional endorsers.
"Justice is blind. Justice should be blind, "Ryan (R-Wis.) Said when asked about the president's comments during a news conference at the Capitol. "I think it's very important that we respect that fact that justice should be blind."
[['Two easy wins now in doubt': Trump renews attack on Sessions
Collins was involved with insider trading, accused by federal prosecutors of tipping off his company.
Hunter was charged with $ 250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses, including family vacations, school tuition and theater tickets.
In his tweet this week, Trump wrote: "Two long running, Obama's, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department. Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. "
In the case of Collins, the alleged tip-off took place during the Obama administration, as Trump's tweet suggests, but in 2017, after Trump had become president.
The San Diego Union-Tribune Shed Light Tuesday the sections of the Hunter indictment alleging that the congressman
The newspaper reported that Hunter's lawyer, Gregory Vega, wrote in a letter to the Justice Department in August that the congressman's "personal indiscretions" should be a matter of civil, not criminal, law.
"While there may be evidence of infidelity, irresponsibility or alcohol dependence, ounce understood," the facts facts of the equation to criminal activity, "Vega wrote, according to the newspaper. Vega did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
During the news conference Wednesday, Ryan also defended his handling of the indictments, noting that he had removed Collins and Hunter from their committee assignments.
"We have taken the appropriate action," said Ryan, noting that the same steps have been taken in the past when lawmakers have been indicted.
Ryan also characterized the indictments as "isolated incidents" and said that he is not worried about democratic efforts to score political points off them.
Ryan said the GOP record will be "the story that dominates."
Felicia Sonmez contributed to this report.
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