WASHINGTON Republican leaders blasted Donald Trumps guilty verdict on Thursday and casually trashed the entire U.S. justice system.

This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a statement, falsely suggesting that President Joe Biden orchestrated the case.

The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, Johnson said, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents.

Absolute injustice, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who is vying to be Trumps vice presidential pick, said in a statement. This erodes our justice system. Hear me clearly: You cannot silence the American people. You cannot stop us from voting for change.

Their comments were typical for GOP lawmakers in the aftermath of Trumps verdict. Its the latest sign that top Republicans are ditching their law and order brand in their efforts to suck up to Trump amid his post-presidential legal woes. Johnson, Scott and other GOP lawmakers have spent the last few weeks flocking to Trumps trial in New York City to appear on television with him, and to attack the judge, the court and the rule of law itself.

Its also a continuation of the hole-digging Trump has forced Republicans to do to excuse his continuous flouting of norms and laws a project that has accelerated considerably in the years since Trump lost the 2020 election.