Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy blasted the “political media” on Sunday, claiming they do the “bidding” of the United States government.
During an appearance on “State of the Union” with host Dana Bash, Ramaswamy doubled down on his vow to pardon former President Donald Trump should Ramaswamy win the presidency and Trump be convicted on federal charges. Ramaswamy called the current system of government in the United States a “federal administrative police state” and said Trump’s indictment was political.
“With due respect, I think it is shameful that I, as a competitor to president Trump in this race, have to ask questions that the media isn’t asking,” Ramaswamy told Bash after the host said there is “no evidence” Biden had anything to do with the investigation or indictment.
“The job of the political media if it has one job is to hold the U.S. government accountable. Instead … you’re seeing the media doing the bidding of the U.S. government.”
Ramaswamy implored Bash to ask the tough questions and to investigate what Biden may have told Attorney General Merrick Garland and what Garland told special counsel Jack Smith regarding the recent Trump indictment. Asking questions such as these could lead to the restoration of journalism in the United States, the presidential contender argued.
“What I see in that document is deeply politicized,” Ramaswamy said when asked if he stood by his pledge to pardon the former president. “Not a single mention of the Presidential Records Act — the most relevant statute to the actual alleged crime here.”
Ramaswamy called the indictment “selective prosecution” and said that it “reeks of politicization.” But Ramaswamy said he does not think Trump’s judgement in his handling of classified material was ideal if the accusations are true. Ramaswamy told Bash he would not have taken classified material with him, but if he did, he claims he would have returned them on demand.
“There’s a difference between a bad judgement and breaking the law,” Ramaswamy argued. “And when, especially the federal police apparatus conflates the two, that’s a threat to liberty for everyone. Not just President Trump, but every American where every misjudgement is treated as a violation of law.”
Bash asked the presidential contender whether it would be a “mistake” for Republicans to nominate Trump, given he faces not only federal charges but also a 34-count indictment in a separate New York case. In response, Ramaswamy said he himself is in the race to win it, arguing that the country needs to move forward.
“I think we go forward with the agenda if we’re grounded in first principles and moral authority,” Ramaswamy told Bash. “But that’s not for you or I — or certainly the federal administrative police state — to decide. That’s for the people of this country to decide.”
A federal indictment from the Southern District of Florida unsealed on Friday shows 37 counts against Trump, including alleged violations of the Espionage Act. Trump told POLITICO the recent indictment wouldn’t prevent him from continuing his campaign, saying he would “never leave” the race.
Trump is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.