Republicans flock to court to ‘kiss the ring’ during Trump criminal trial

NEW YORK — Sen. J.D. Vance, who once recoiled from Donald Trump’s lewd comments about women, was at Trump’s side in court this week as prosecutors rehashed the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape that upended his 2016 campaign.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), an amiable advocate of conservative Christian morals, came to the courthouse the next day to call Trump’s trial a “shame,” a “travesty” and a “partisan witch hunt.” He left without taking questions, including one referencing the allegation that Trump falsified business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn actress.