Iowa Attorney General Brenna Byrd was part of former President Donald Trump’s entourage entering the courtroom Monday during his trial in the hush-money case in New York.
Mr. Byrd, a Republican, endorsed Mr. Trump ahead of the 2024 Iowa caucuses and has used his position to aggressively target Democratic President Joe Biden’s policies.
Video footage shows Mr. Byrd standing with Trump supporters, including Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Ala.). The video shows him entering the courtroom from behind the president. Y.). Vance is reported to be a running mate as President Trump seeks his second term.
more:Trump trial live updates: Michael Cohen testifies as star witness in hush money trial
Brenna Byrd: “What I saw at Donald Trump’s trial was a travesty”
Byrd joined Trump supporters, including Vance and Tuberville, in a press conference outside the New York City courthouse during a midday break in testimony.
She said she came all the way from Iowa to represent the state’s support for the former president.
“We need him back as president to lead our country again,” Byrd said. “My background is as a prosecutor, and what I saw in court today was a travesty. Politics has no place in a courtroom.”
Mr. Byrd said Mr. Trump should be campaigning instead of spending time in court. She claimed the charges filed against Trump were a “fraud” meant to prevent him from regaining the presidency.
“They’re trying to accuse him of all these ridiculous things, including being a perjurer and a star witness who was disbarred and falsely convicted,” Byrd said. “It tells you the state we are in in this country right now.”
A spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on who paid for Byrd’s travel expenses.
Instead, the office released a statement in which Byrd again slammed the trial and said in part, “Politics has no place in criminal prosecution. We are happy to oppose the legal actions that are being taken.”
The Iowa Democratic Party criticized Byrd’s appearance.
“Iowans have a right to know if their hard-earned money is being spent on a political photo shoot 1,100 miles from the state Capitol,” party chairwoman Rita Hart said in a statement. “Furthermore, Iowans deserve an attorney general who is dedicated to serving the state of Iowa.” She is a voter, not her political ambitions. ”
Mr. Byrd has expressed his opposition to the Biden administration at every opportunity. A Register analysis released in January found that her office had filed, participated in, or filed more than a dozen briefs with the federal government.
After Trump won the Iowa caucuses on January 15, he praised Byrd in his victory speech, telling the Iowa crowd, “She’s going to be governor one day.”
Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, said he authorized Trump to pay $130,000 in hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election, and that Trump was legally required to do so. She took the witness stand Monday to convince jurors that she had arranged for him to be repaid through means. A plan to hide hush money.
Trump has been charged with 34 felonies for falsifying business records. He pleaded not guilty.
Cohen was disbarred in 2018 after pleading guilty to campaign finance violations and lying to Congress. Prosecutors hope to overcome this burden and convince jurors that Mr. Cohen is telling the truth.
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief political reporter for the Des Moines Register. She is also a national campaign correspondent for USA TODAY, where she is also covering the 2024 presidential election. Contact us at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow @brianneDMR on Twitter.
Kate Keeley is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Contact us at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow us on Twitter @.carey 17.
