Speaker’s attendance at Trump trial marks a remarkable moment in US politics

House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson lambasted the United Statex judicial system on Tuesday as he became the highest-ranking Republican to attend court with Donald Trump, echoing unsubstantiated or disproven arguments made by the former president and his allies.

It was a remarkable moment in modern American politics; the powerful House speaker signaled a turn of his political party against the federal and state legal systems and demonstrated further loyalty toward Trump, who is accused of having arranged secret payments to a porn actress to hide negative stories during his successful 2016 campaign for president.

Johnson – a lawyer who is second in line for the presidency after vice-president Kamala Harris – called the court system “corrupt” and the case against Trump a “sham," while alleging without proof that the special counsel who's charged Trump in two separate cases has doctored evidence. He also attacked the credibility of Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and fixer who began his second day of testimony in the former president's hush money trial.

Trump's campaign has lined up allies in recent days to appear at the New York courthouse to attack witnesses and others whom Trump is barred by a judge's gag order from criticizing himself.

Also supporting Trump on Tuesday were US. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum — both considered possible vice presidential candidates — as well as former GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, one of Trump's current top surrogates.

Senators JD Vance of Ohio and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama were among those who attended court on Monday.

Their presence and comments critical of the process and its participants have let Trump and his allies to amplify their