Vin Weber, a republican strategist, said it would be a bad idea to indict Trump because it would sow more political discord into a deeply divided nation, and waiting well into the 2024 election cycle would only make it worse.

I think an indictment is a bad idea, but I think Attorney General Merrick Garland is under such political pressure by the Democratic left that it may well happen, he said.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea and I don’t want it to be misinterpreted as supporting it. If it’s going to happen, though, it should happen as soon after the midterm election as possible because it complicates everybody´s plans: Biden´s plans, Trump´s plans, every other Republican´s plans,” he added.

GOP aides and strategists privately expect Garland to pursue an indictment of former President trump within 60 to 90 days after Election Day, predicting the window for prosecuting Trump will close once the 2024 presidential campaign gains momentum.

“People have been talking about splintering support and dampening enthusiasm among Republican voters for him. An indictment could actually galvanize and reunify Republicans around him,” the aide said, predicting the Republican backlash to an indictment would be stronger if Garland brings an indictment later in the 2024 election cycle.

Republican aides and strategists point out the party base quickly rallied behind Trump after the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago estate in early August.

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