Fox News reported on Friday that former President Donald Trump was indicted on 37 criminal charges stemming from Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into his handling of classified documents.

That fact has one former member of Trump's cabinet saying it is time for him to suspend his campaign. 

John Bolton accuses Trump of "continually flouting" the rule of law

John Bolton briefly served as national security advisor in the Trump White House, and as the Washington Examiner reported, he declared in a tweet that his old boss "should immediately withdraw as a candidate for president."

"Criminal charges are piling up around him," Bolton continued, referring to an indictment brought earlier this year by Manhattan District Attorney Alive Bragg over Trump's alleged payoff to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

"If Trump truly stood for America First policies, he would support the rule of law instead of continually flouting it," the former national security advisor concluded.

Donald Trump should immediately withdraw as a candidate for president. Criminal charges are piling up around him. If Trump truly stood for America First policies, he would support the rule of law instead of continually flouting it. Withdraw now!

— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) June 9, 2023

Republicans accuse DOJ of attempting to distract from Biden's corruption

Bolton's reaction was unusual among members of his party, however, as most Republicans have rallied to Trump's defense.

That includes House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, who provided Fox News with a statement alleging that the case against Trump is part of an effort to distract from newly uncovered evidence of corruption by President Joe Biden.

"The exact same day that the FBI is forced to turn over to Congress absolutely damning and credible allegations regarding Joe Biden’s illegal, egregious, and treasonous corruption, Joe Biden weaponizes his Department of Justice to indict Donald Trump," the New York congresswoman complained.

"The American people are smart and understand this is the epitome of the illegal and unprecedented weaponization of the federal government against Joe Biden’s leading opponent, President Donald J. Trump," she declared.

"The radical Far Left will stop at nothing to interfere with the 2024 election in order to prop up the catastrophic presidency and desperate campaign of Joe Biden," Stefanik concluded.

Trump remains defiant

Trump has remained defiant as well, stating in a Truth Social post that "Joe Biden has 1850 Boxes at the University of Delaware, additional Boxes in Chinatown, D.C., with even more Boxes at the University of Pennsylvania, and documents strewn all over his garage floor where he parks his Corvette, and which is 'secured' by only a garage door that is paper thin, and open much of the time."

"I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country, and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and Republican, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election," he continued.

"I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!" the former president continued, adding, "This is indeed a DARK DAY for the United States of America. We are a Country in serious and rapid Decline, but together we will Make America Great Again!"