CLEVELAND — Donald Trump’s campaign on Wednesday embraced the thematic “lock her up” line of attack on Hillary Clinton that has taken hold during the Republican convention.
“Lock her up” wasn’t an official talking point of the Republican nominee’s campaign, appearing to bubble up organically amid the deliberate focus on Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of state that FBI Director James Comey said came close to breaking the law and endangered national secrets.
But Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort seemed fine with that rhetoric getting airtime at the convention when asked about during a morning news conference, saying that it illustrates voters’ frustration that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee hasn’t been held accountable for her actions.
“I think that was a refrain that Gov. Christie was calling for in the speech. And, did it reflect the attitude of the people saying it? It probably reflects the attitude of a lot of people in America — over 70 percent think she’s guilty and don’t understand why justice wasn’t done,” Manafort said. “Frankly, that plays right into the narrative of why things need to change in Washington, because there’s special justice for some and it’s not equal justice.”
Trump supporters and delegates gathering inside Quicken Loans Arena for the first two days of the convention have been offered a steady diet of red meat attacks on Clinton, with an emphasis on her email scandal.
Public opinion polls taken since Comey’s announcement in early July that the FBI was recommending against indicting Clinton despite what the investigation uncovered have shown that the former New York senator and first lady sustained real political damage.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is a former federal prosecutor. During his prime-time speech to the convention on Tuesday, he offered a legal dissection Clinton’s email scandal and why she should have been indicted. The crowd responded with chants of “lock her up.” Counter to what Manafort said, Christie did not initiate the chant.
However, the line was uttered Monday by retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn during his convention speech. Saying that Clinton belongs in jail is popular topic. Some convention goers can be seen sporting “Hillary for prison” t-shirts.
The theme of day three of the convention is “make America first again.” Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, the vice presidential nominee, will deliver his formal acceptance speech in prime time.
Also scheduled to speak are Florida Gov. Rick Scott; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; and conservative talk radio host Laura Ingraham, among others.
