No. 3 House Republican Stefanik doubles down on support for Trump

House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik is going full steam ahead in her support for former President Trump ahead of his possible impeachment on Tuesday.

“We need Trump more than ever,” the New York Republican told DailyMail.com in a sit-down interview at the House GOP retreat in Orlando, Florida.

“I actually think Trump will be in a stronger position than ever before,” said Stefanik, assuring she would support the former president even if he were convicted of a crime.

The GOP conference chair said she had spoken with Trump since he broke the news of a possible indictment by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, but “would not go into details” about what they discussed. “We communicate regularly.”

“I’m focused on the work of the subcommittee on armaments,” she said. “I think Alvin Bragg should be brought before Congress to testify under oath.”

This morning, three Republican leaders on the Judiciary, Oversight, and Administration committees demanded that Bragg testify for them and handle all communications between the New York District Attorney’s office and the Justice Department.

Stefanik supported Trump’s call to protest if he is indicted, even as speaker Kevin McCarthy urged “calm.”

“When President Trump put that out, he said he was protesting peacefully,” Stefanik said.

“It’s up to the American people to make sure we communicate that that’s fundamentally unAmerican, and an overreach by a radical prosecutor.”

The GOP conference chair also indicated that she would accept if Trump asked her to be his vice president.

“I would be honored to serve in a Trump administration,” the chairman said. “I am focused on my work as Speaker of the House Republican Assembly. I’ll tell you that’s a long time in politics. That is like a life in politics between now and then.’

Trump said he expects to be arrested this week on New York State charges related to his payment before the 2016 presidential election.

Prosecutors argue he violated a New York law that prohibits falsifying company records when he classified a $130,000 payment to Daniels as “legal fees.”

Trump could be charged with falsifying company records related to payments to his former attorney, Michael Cohen, who was serving jail time after pleading guilty to using campaign finance on Daniels.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY (left) and former President Donald Trump (right)

Donald Trump on Saturday claimed his arrest is imminent and issued an extraordinary call for his supporters to protest as a New York grand jury investigates hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, who alleged sexual encounters with the former president.

‘It’s a non case. It’s what’s considered a zombie case because there’s no case there,” Stefanik said.

While House Republicans were in Florida discussing their agenda, Trump once again dominated the news cycle and coverage of his possible impeachment has eclipsed any new policy action.

More moderate Republicans are more reluctant to comment on a possible indictment that has not yet been released.

“I wouldn’t withhold judgment on the indictment until I see it,” Rep. Dusty Johnson, chair of the centrist GOP Main Street Caucus, told DailyMail.com.

“I don’t even know what’s been confirmed is really coming. It seems we have more whispers than anything at the moment.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Trump’s potential rival in the 2024 bid for the White House, counted himself among those reluctant to defend the former president, drawing anger from the Trump world.

So I’ve seen rumors swirling; I haven’t seen any facts yet,” DeSantis finally said Monday morning. “The Manhattan District Attorney is a Soros-funded prosecutor.”

DeSantis added that he doesn’t know “what’s involved in paying hush money to a porn star to get silence about some alleged affair.”

When asked about Florida governor’s lukewarm comments, Stefanik said, “Well, people are going to have to stand by their own statements. I’ve been very clear – I think it’s important for people to stand up for equal justice under the law.”

Later in the day, she more forcefully rebuked DeSantis and his comments to reporters. I think he’s going to slide in the polls. He’s already seen slippage in recent weeks.’