Mass. politicians slam Trump after latest indictment: 'He will never, ever change'

It didn't take long after special counsel Jack Smith announced former President Trump's third indictment for members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation to have their say.

Smith indicted Trump on four counts Tuesday, accusing the former president of conspiracy and obstruction related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton declared Trump "will never, ever change" and urged people to vote and make sure his bid to return to power fails.

"Donald Trump tried to destroy the most fundamental part of American democracy," Moulton wrote in a tweet. "He did it knowing he lost. He doesn't care about anything or anyone but himself, his personal enrichment, and his hold on power."

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley echoed language from the indictment in her statement, saying, "An ‘unprecedented assault’ on our democracy is right. Donald Trump abandoned his oath of office and played a blatant, reckless role in spreading misinformation and conspiring to overthrow the results of an election in broad daylight."

In her reaction to the ruling on Wednesday morning, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark emphasized the importance of accountability for the January 6th insurrection.

"January 6th was an assault on our democracy — all because of a big lie," Clark tweeted. "Justice must be done, and those who are responsible must be held accountable."

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan evoked the past actions by Senate Republicans who she said "were derelict in their duty when they voted to acquit him." She also urged for the matter to be heard fairly in court: "The Special Counsel must now make the case for why Donald Trump should be convicted and the former president must have every opportunity to defend himself. A case of such gravity has to be beyond reproach. I urge my colleagues to avoid interfering in this ongoing judicial matter."

Gov. Maura Healey also weighed in during her appearance on WBUR's Radio Boston, saying the indictment was justified.

"It's a really sad commentary on Donald Trump and what has happened here," Healey said. "The indictment is not surprising. It is in my view absolutely appropriate, and the Department of Justice will do what it needs to do."

She also urged Massachusetts residents to read the indictment for themselves and that it underscores the importance to register and vote.

It's unclear if this most recent indictment will change public opinion of the former president, who is the current front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. A recent New York Times/Sienna College poll found that in a hypothetical rematch, both Biden and Trump received 43% support for their return to the White House.

Wendy Wakeman, a Massachusetts GOP strategist told WBUR's Morning Edition she believes the indictments could help Trump's election efforts in the region.

"People who are committed to Trump, committed to the idea that we have to drain the swamp, committed to the principle that government has gotten out of control and wields too much power," she said, are going to "coalesce behind Trump and make his victory through the primary is ever more certain."