Politics
They Attended Trump’s Trial. Now He’s Offering Them High-Profile Jobs.
A parade of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s allies showed their loyalty at his criminal trial in Manhattan. Many are now in line for key government jobs.
On a sunny spring day this year, two members of Congress and two former presidential candidates stepped out of the Manhattan courthouse where Donald J. Trump was being tried on criminal charges.
The four were the latest in a parade of Mr. Trump’s allies who attended the trial to show support for the once and future president. Like Mr. Trump, they all wore red ties. And like him, they all called the case an act of persecution.
“The sooner that this scam trial can be concluded,” said one of the four, Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota, “the sooner that the president can get back to getting out and campaigning.”
Mr. Trump’s subsequent conviction on 34 felony counts did not keep him from regaining the presidency. Now, as he fills out his new administration, he has picked more than a dozen political operatives, lawyers and elected officials who attended the proceedings for key roles.
Representative Nicole Malliotakis, Republican of Staten Island, said it was natural for Mr. Trump to reward such displays of loyalty.
“It was not a litmus test in any way,” said Ms. Malliotakis, who attended the trial with Mr. Trump’s eventual choice for running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio. “But it did show Mr. Trump who is willing to ride the peaks and the valleys with him, and I think that is invaluable in politics.”
