Weber criticizes second Trump indictment, remains supportive of former president: 'There is discretion there'

A Houston-area member of the U.S. House of Representatives said that despite facing two indictments, former President Donald J. Trump continues to enjoy a significant amount of support from the Republican Party. 

U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-Friendswood) is among the slew of Texas Republicans who still stand behind the 45th commander-in-chief, according to a report from Houston FOX affiliate KRIV.

Weber, who represents Texas’ 14th Congressional District on Capital Hill, argued that Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents – for which he was indicted earlier this month – didn’t present a national security issue as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) asserts. 

“There is discretion there,” the Southeast Texas federal legislator told KRIV. “Law enforcement officials know this. “There is discretion there when they are dealing with a potential crime if you want to call it a crime."

According to a report from Los Angeles ABC affiliate KABC, a Florida grand jury indicted the 77-year-old Trump on June 8 on 37 felony charges, including but not limited to conspiracy to obstruct justice, corruptly concealing a document or record and willful retention of national defense information.

The indictment was made public the next day, and Trump surrendered on June 13 at a federal courthouse in Miami, where he entered a not guilty plea, per KABC.

"Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced,” special counsel Jack Smith, who initiated the case, said, KABC reported. “Violations of those laws put our country at risk."

Earlier this year, a New York City grand jury indicted the ex-president, who’s the purported frontrunner for the 2024 GOP presidential bid, in connection with a purported hush money scheme involving a pornographic film actress.

Regarding Trump’s prospects of returning to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., KRIV reported, Weber said the former has what it takes to clinch a second go-around.

"He has that experience, that background … He's not afraid to confront people,” the congressman said in the report. “A lot of people say, I like the fact that Trump fights back and so I think the world understands that and they can't get one over on Donald J. Trump.

“I don't see anybody in the field that has that kind of chutzpah,” Weber concluded.