Tim Scott campaigns in Spartanburg: Trump 'innocent until proven guilty' on federal charges

GOP presidential hopeful and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott declined to say on Monday if he would pardon former President Donald Trump if he is convicted of numerous federal charges related to his handling of classified documents.

"I won't get into hypotheticals, but what I will say is, the concept is a very important concept," Scott said. "This is what it means to be an American. We are the city on the hill. We believe that we are innocent until proven guilty."

Scott spoke to dozens of supporters at the AC Hotel Marriott Spartanburg Monday where he announced endorsements from more than 140 current and former elected officials from South Carolina.

The South Carolina endorsements of Scott come as Republicans aim to navigate the campaign amid Trump’s unprecedented indictment on dozens of federal charges related to his handling of classified documents. Trump is slated to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday.

Over the weekend, Trump called the case against him "ridiculous" and "baseless" during appearances at GOP conventions in Georgia and North Carolina.

On Sunday, GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy said on CNN's State of the Union that if he were elected, he would pardon Trump if convicted in the Mar-a-Lago documents case.

Along with GOP presidential hopeful Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Scott has decried the “weaponization” of the Department of Justice in making its allegations against the former president. Former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley called for an end to “vendetta politics.”

Ramaswamy said the federal case was part of “an affront to every citizen” and called it “hypocritical for the DOJ to selectively prosecute Trump but not” President Joe Biden over his own classified documents case.

When asked about the indictment Monday, Scott called the allegations against Trump "serious," "but in America you are still innocent until proven guilty."

"We have to have a justice system where the lady of justice wears a blindfold," he said. "What we see today across this nation under Joe Biden's leadership is a double standard. You can't protect Democrats while targeting and hunting Republicans."

He said as president, he would "restore confidence and integrity in the Department of Justice so every single American can have confidence that they will be treated the same, no matter your color, no matter your partisan affiliation."

Meanwhile, Scott said Monday that his message has been building support from independent voters.

"What we've learned about the American people is a very simple formula," he said. "Number one, they agree with us on the economy, on military, on foreign policy. "We need an optimistic, positive messenger anchored in conservatism with a backbone that absolutely attracts more of the independents to our side."

Here's what to know about Tim Scott's SC endorsements

Among those who endorsed Scott at Monday's event was state Sen. Shane Massey, the current Republican leader of South Carolina’s Senate, who called Scott “the authentic conservative leader we need in the White House right now.”

Among local endorsements are state Sen. Scott Talley of Spartanburg; Inman Mayor Cornelius Huff; Rep. Bruce Bannister of Greenville, chairman of the state House Ways and Means Committee; Greenville County Councilwoman Liz Seman; Greenville County Coroner Parks Evans; Spartanburg County Councilman Justin McCorkle; and Spartanburg City Councilmen Jamie Fulmer and Rob Rain.

Scott was previously endorsed by U.S. Senate Minority Whip John Thune and U.S. Senator Mike Rounds.Scott's Spartanburg visit comes one week after his appearance on The View talk show, where he debated Republican policies and people of color and was booed after defending Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his legal fight with Disney.

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Scott, the lone Black Republican in the Senate, would be the first African-American to win the Republican nomination. He is well behind in the polls to former President Donald Trump and DeSantis.

Scott, 57, has served as junior U.S. senator from South Carolina since 2013. He previously served in the state General Assembly from 2009 to 2011 and in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013.

In addition to Scott, Haley, Ramaswamy and DeSantis, other GOP candidates include former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; former Vice President Mike Pence; talk radio host Larry Elder; former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson; former Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton; and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

South Carolina will hold the third GOP state primary in February 2024, behind Iowa and New Hampshire. On Wednesday, June 14, Tim Scott will travel to Pella, Iowa to host a town hall with Iowa caucus-goers.

Democratic presidential candidates include incumbent President Joe Biden; lawyer and author Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; and author Marianne Williamson.

Here's what supporters said about Tim Scott:

Rob Rain, Spartanburg City Councilman: "His experience as a former local elected official gives him a unique perspective into the needs of citizens, and he knows how to address them at the federal level. Every day Tim fights for an America that looks forward with optimism that unites us and brings forth the best within us."

Scott Talley, state senator from Spartanburg: "It's not enough to continue to say Washington is broken, we need people who are willing to take stands, offer solutions, who can make the argument why the solution is good for all of our America, and that is our friend Tim Scott. He knows firsthand that children in America, regardless of their race, can rise as high as their character, education and work ethic will carry them."

Jamie Fulmer, Spartanburg City Councilman: I have voted Democrat and Republican. Senator Scott represents a unique leader for this country. He can bridge both parties and can unite our country. Senator Scott is the man."

Bruce Bannister, state representative from Greenville: Tim's never backed down. South Carolina needs Tim Scott in Washington, D.C., and America."

Barry Wynn, former South Carolina Republican Party chairman from Spartanburg: "I think he has a very good chance to surprise us and be someone who Democrats would fear, and likely be their worst nightmare."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Tim Scott campaigns in Spartanburg after SC endorsements talks Trump