Former President Donald Trump's conviction in the felony hush payment case in Manhattan predictably led to a firestorm of condemnation and recriminations against the legal system by Republican officeholders across the country — but in some cases, it also led to a civil war against the few Republicans who had any words of caution.
That was laid bare vividly on Thursday for former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, now the Republican nominee for Senate in that state.
"Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process," Hogan posted to X that afternoon. "At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders — regardless of party — must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law."
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This comment was quickly swatted down by Mike Davis, a pro-Trump legal activist and former law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, who replied by writing, "F--- you, Larry. Go eat" — a clear broadside at the former governor's weight.
Hogan has been open about his struggle with his weight. He says it began in the mid-2010s while he was being treated for lymphoma, which included steroid therapy that affected his appetite, and was exacerbated by the stress of holding public office. He fought particularly hard to lose some of the weight in 2020, fearful of his elevated risk of complications from COVID.
Davis has frequently stepped into controversy. Earlier this year, he filed an ethics complaint against U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton for appearing on TV to criticize Trump's rhetoric during the trial. He appeared himself on CNN to accuse Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, of bias, but was smacked down by anchor Pamela Brown.
But Davis is far from alone among prominent Trump allies in attacking Hogan, simply for urging calm.
Senior Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita replied, "You just ended your campaign," while far-right activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer wrote, "Go to hell. Your campaign for Senate is OFFICIALLY OVER!"