Some of Trump's 2024 rivals have started to weigh in following news of a federal indictment against the former president.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis denounced on social media the "weaponization of federal law enforcement" and said that a "DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all."

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said in a statement to ABC News that the criminal proceedings are a "major distraction" and "reaffirms the need for Donald Trump to respect the office and end his campaign."

"With the news that Donald Trump has been indicted for the second time, our country finds itself in a position that weakens our democracy," Hutchinson said. "Donald Trump's actions -- from his willful disregard for the Constitution to his disrespect for the rule of law -- should not define our nation or the Republican Party. This is a sad day for our country."

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told PBS that if Trump "committed a crime and there is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to prove that crime, then he must be charged," and that not doing so would set the rule of law in the U.S. back.

Christie later tweeted, "We don't get our news from Trump's Truth Social account. Let's see what the facts are when any possible indictment is released. As I have said before, no one is above the law, no matter how much they wish they were. We will have more to say when the facts are revealed."

Sources tell ABC News that former President Trump faces at least seven charges in the federal indictment:

-Willful retention of national defense information (maximum penalty if convicted: 10 years)
-Conspiracy to obstruct justice (maximum penalty: 20 years)
-Withholding a document or record (maximum penalty: 20 years)
-Corruptly concealing a document or record (maximum penalty: 20 years)
-Concealing a document in a federal investigation (maximum penalty: 20 years)
-Scheme to conceal (maximum penalty: Five years)
-False statements and representations (maximum penalty: Five years)

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders, John Santucci and Alexander Mallin

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy called news of Trump's federal indictment "unconscionable" and said House Republicans will "hold this brazen weaponization of power accountable."

The speaker is the first of the Big Four to comment on Trump's second indictment.

-ABC News' Lauren Peller

With former President Donald Trump now facing a second indictment, this time on federal charges, according to sources, it's a turn of events that could shake up the Republican primary field as Trump makes a third run for the White House.

The aftermath of Trump's first indictment in New York connection to an alleged hush money scheme could be an indication of what is to come. Before his first indictment, Trump pledged to continue on with his presidential bid despite charges and even argued that cases could give his campaign a boost. Trump wasn't wrong.

In fact, he still outpaces his GOP rivals in recent polling.

Another boon to his campaign, the fact that Republicans by and large rallied around him after his first indictment -- even most of those challenging him in the Republican presidential primary.

But the field of candidates is more crowded now, comprised of more candidates willing to clearly criticize Trump.

Read more of ABC News' analysis here.

-ABC News' Averi Harper

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy went to bat for former President Donald Trump during his first appearance in the Capitol since the 37-count indictment against Trump was handed up in Florida last week.

Asked by reporters whether it was a good look for Trump to have stored boxes of documents in a Mar-a-Lago bathroom, McCarthy responded, "I don’t know. Is it a good picture to have boxes in a garage that opens all the time?" McCarthy said, drawing comparisons to the circumstances surrounding documents found in President Joe Biden's possession.

"A bathroom door locks," McCarthy added.

McCarthy repeatedly slammed the FBI and Department of Justice for failing to indict Biden, falsely equating the crimes Trump allegedly committed with Biden's own handling of classified documents.

"I think President Trump has not been treated equally like everybody else in this process," McCarthy said.

"You raid one house and you don’t raid the other -- that's a little different, and that’s not fair," he said.

McCarthy said he has not spoken to Trump since the indictment was handed up. He said he's read "a lot of portions" of the indictment but not the entire 49-page document that was unsealed Friday.

-ABC News' Allie Pecorin and Gabe Ferris