On Tuesday, former biotech executive and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy joined former President Donald Trump in court as his criminal trial continued. Ramaswamy, a multimillionaire, spent the entire day with Trump in a show of support.
Ramaswamy's spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that he had joined Trump in court. Ramaswamy has been a vocal critic of the multiple prosecutions against Trump, stating that the criminal justice system has been weaponized to prevent him from returning to the White House. He has also criticized the use of prosecutorial power to eliminate political opponents.
The case against Trump centers on allegations of falsification of business records. Prosecutors claim that Trump's former attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to silence her claims of an extramarital sexual encounter with Trump. They allege that the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen and falsely categorized the payments as legal expenses. The prosecution is working to prove that Trump falsified records with the intent to commit or conceal a crime.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Last week, Daniels took the stand and testified that she had met Trump in 2006 at a celebrity golf tournament. She claimed that they had sex in Trump's hotel room during the event, which Trump has repeatedly denied.
Cohen, who is also facing charges related to the hush money payments, testified on Monday that he had secretly recorded Trump discussing a payment to former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. The payment was allegedly made to silence former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claimed she had an affair with Trump.
After Monday's proceedings, Trump criticized Judge Juan Merchan as "highly conflicted" following Cohen's testimony. He accused the judge of being appointed by Democrat politicians and described him as "corrupt" and "conflicted."
Ramaswamy is not the only Trump ally to attend court proceedings in support of the former president. On Friday, U.S. Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, and attorneys general Steve Marshall of Alabama and Brenna Bird of Iowa were also in attendance. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., was also with Trump in court last week.
Ramaswamy has previously been considered a potential running mate for Trump, and Vance is also seen as a contender for the role. The support shown by potential vice presidential nominees reflects how the Trump trial has become highly politicized, with the political affiliations of judges and prosecutors coming under scrutiny.
The defense team for Trump has repeatedly criticized the prosecution, claiming that the charges are a part of a political vendetta against the former president. They argue that even if Trump had committed the alleged crimes in the opposite direction, he would still be prosecuted.
The trial is expected to continue for several more days, with more witnesses and evidence to be presented. As the proceedings go on, it remains a highly debated and divisive topic among the American public. The outcome of the trial and its potential implications for Trump's political future remain uncertain.