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Tim Scott demurs on Trump’s birther attacks against Haley, argues Jan. 6 prisoners aren’t hostages

COMP--Tim Scott demurs on Trump's birth attacks against Haley, argues Jan 6 prisoners aren't hostages

HAMPTON, New Hampshire — Sen. Tim Scott sidestepped questions Sunday about former President Donald Trump’s birther attacks on his 2024 foe Nikki Haley.

As Trump battles to knock out Haley and cement his 2024 GOP victory, he has trafficked in false innuendo that his former UN ambassador isn’t eligible to be president because of her Indian parents’ citizenship status, and has used her birth name Nimarata, despite the fact that she goes by Nikki.

Scott (R-S.C.) demurred when asked about whether he is comfortable with those attacks.

“I’m watching rhetoric on all sides of the issues,” Scott told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “The rhetoric from Joe Biden is terrible and it is salacious. Nikki Haley questions whether 70-year-olds should be allowed to run for president.”

I think there’s so much negativity and toxicity in this aim to becoming president.”

When pressed further by host Dana Bash, Scott replied, “I would like for all politicians to comport themselves in a way that is consistent with the highest office on the campaign trail.”

The South Carolina senator, who endorsed Trump Friday, argued that it is time for the party to coalesce behind the 45th president and concentrate slings and arrows on President Biden.

Scott’s endorsement of Trump is key because after New Hampshire, Haley has bet heavily on a strong performance in her home state of South Carolina.

Trump touted his big-ticket endorsements from South Carolina Republicans including Scott and Gov. Henry McMaster during rallies this weekend.

“You will not see me have a whole lot of legislative endorsements in South Carolina,” Haley told reporters during a brief gaggle Saturday, before ticking off some legislation she championed that state officials didn’t like.

“And the reason is, I forced them to have to start showing their votes on the record, against their will — that’s documented,” she continued. “I forced them to pass ethics reform, even though they didn’t want to do it.”

Haley appointed Scott to the Senate back in 2013 when she needed to fill a vacancy left by retiring Sen. Jim DeMint. She conceded Saturday that, “of course I was disappointed [Scott endorsed Trump], he’s got to live with that.”

Her foremost surrogate in the Granite State, Gov. Chris Sununu, has been more harsh about Scott.

Haley appointed Scott to the Senate back in 2013 when she needed to fill a vacancy left by retiring Sen. Jim DeMint. She conceded Saturday that, “of course I was disappointed [Scott endorsed Trump], he’s got to live with that.”

“Tim Scott actually just looked in the camera and said ‘Donald Trump’s going to unite the country.’ Not even Donald Trump believes that statement,” Sununu said to Fox News Saturday. “I mean, nobody thinks Donald Trump’s united the country.”

Bash also grilled Scott about Trump referring to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol rioters as “hostages” during several of his stump speeches.

“I would say that every single person facing our justice system should have justice done. The facts and the evidence in each individual case matters. I have confidence that that process will play out,” he replied.

After the ransacking of the Capitol, Scott, a former football player, recalled rolling up his sleeves ready to defend himself “presumably until I died.”

The CNN host pressed Scott repeatedly on Trump calling the rioters “hostages.” On the third try, Scott conceded he disagreed with that.

“Just for the third time, yes,” he replied quickly. “I believe that we should have confidence in restoring the blindfold to Lady Justice.”

Since the Capitol riot, at least 1,247 individuals have been charged, 907 have been convicted, and 766 have been sentenced, according to an Associated Press tracker.

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