Nikki Haley blasts 'distraction' of Trump's legal woes after the former president claims the January 6 probe is heating up
- Nikki Haley blasted Trump's frequent legal woes after it appeared he was on the verge of another indictment.
- Trump claimed that he received a formal letter saying he's a target of the January 6 investigation.
- Special counsel Jack Smith has declined to comment on Trump's claim.
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley on Tuesday criticized former President Donald Trump's legal woes for overshadowing the 2024 GOP primary field on the heels of news that special counsel Jack Smith's January 6 investigation is heating up.
"It's gonna keep on going," Haley told Fox News shortly after Trump released a statement claiming he was a "target" of Smith's investigation. "The rest of this primary election in reference to Trump is gonna be about lawsuits, it's gonna be about legal fees, it's gonna be about judges, and it's just going to continue to be a further and further distraction."
Haley has staked her challenge on a generational change, at times going after Trump who nominated her to be his first United Nations ambassador. Her comments underline how the rest of the 2024 field will face more questions about Trump's legal woes in the wake of his claim about the January 6 probe.
"We can't keep dealing with this drama," she said. "We can't keep dealing with the negativity. "
Smith's team has declined to comment, but typically a target letter is one of the final steps before an indictment is announced. If Trump is indicted, it would be the second federal indictment he would be facing. The former is also facing a slew of other legal struggles.
Trump said that he was informed Sunday night that he was a "target" in Smith's January 6 investigation. The former president said he was given four days to appear before a federal grand jury. Trump declined a similar offer before he was indicted in the classified documents case.
Haley is on track to qualify for the first GOP presidential debate next month. Trump, who would easily qualify, has not said if he will attend the debate or not.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who faces a steep climb to make the debate, said Trump should suspend his campaign.
"Anyone who truly loves this country and is willing to put the country over themselves would suspend their campaign for President of the United States immediately," Hutchinson said in a statement.