Missouri AG says he'll sue New York over Trump hush money case

• His allies immediately urged Republican state attorneys general to take action following the historic case that saw Trump become the first-ever former U.S. president to be a convicted felon.

State of play: Attorney General Andrew Bailey claims that the case was brought solely to smear presumptive presidential nominee Trump going into November's election.

• He argues that the statute of limitations on misdemeanor business records falsification expired in 2019 and that the New York DA never specified "intent to commit another crime."

What they're saying: "We have to fight back against a rogue prosecutor who is trying to take a presidential candidate off the campaign trail. It sabotages Missourians' right to a free and fair election," Bailey said in a Thursday evening post to X. "Stay tuned."

• Representatives for the offices of the New York attorney general and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, one of the lead prosecutors in Trump's N.Y. criminal case, did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Between the lines: Bailey in August will face a primary challenge from Will Scharf, a member of Trump's legal team.

More from Axios:

• Pro-Trump right erupts after guilty verdict
• House Republican urges SCOTUS to overturn Trump verdict
• Vulnerable Republicans aren't sweating Trump verdict