Republicans are raging against the Manhattan jury which found former president Donald Trump guilty on all criminal counts at his hush money trial on Thursday.
Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an effort to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election. He was accused of covering up reimbursement payments to then-attorney Michael Cohen for $130,000 in hush money to Stormy Daniels, whose story about having sex with Trump threatened to derail his campaign.
Trump’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr was among the first to react on social media.
“Such bulls***,” Don Jr said. On Wednesday, he had shared a video with his father from inside the Manhattan courthouse joking about writing mean tweets.
“Guilty on all counts,” Don Jr added. “The Democrats have succeeded in their years long attempt to turn America into a third-world shithole. November 5 is our last chance to save it.”
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who served as Trump’s lawyer, also decried the ruling, trashing the city he led for eight years. “This city has been politically corrupt for most of the past 150 years,” he said. “You knew on day one Trump was going to be convicted.”
Republicans in the highest and lowest ranks in the party decried the guilty verdict as election interference or an attempt to keep Trump off the campaign trail.
Throughout the trial, numerous made the trek to New York City to show their solidarity with the twice-impeached-quadruple-indicted former president. Everyone from back-bench members of the House of Representatives, to governors and attorney generals appeared at the courthouse.
Many Republicans did so in the name of circumventing the gag order that Judge Juan Merchan placed on Mr Trump.
House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed the Biden administration even though the case was carried out by New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
“The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents,” he said.
Trump for his part said on Truth Social that his fate will truly be decided at the ballot box.
“VICTORY ON NOVEMBER 5TH. SAVE AMERICA!!!”
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia proceeded to post an image of an upside down flag, a symbol of “Stop the Steal” after the 2020 presidential election.
“Joe Biden’s campaign orchestrated a rally outside of the courthouse in New York City supporting a potential conviction of President Trump,” she posted on X. “This case has been rigged from the start and we all knew it. This isn’t a prosecution, it’s a persecution. We must end the weaponization of government in America. This is what happens in third world countries!”
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley also criticized the trial.
“Today’s verdict, handed down by a partisan and biased judge, is an indictment on the Democrats’ campaign to weaponize the judicial system to attack President Trump,” he said.
“The real verdict will take place on November 5 when Americans vote for a president they trust to bring down prices, secure the southern border, restore America’s leadership around the world and Make America Great Again.”
Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida posted a campaign donation link on X in response to the conviction.
“This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA,” he said. “We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country.”
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who is considered a potential running mate for Trump, posted a video of himself criticising the verdict.
“This isn't just ridiculous,” he said. “This actually erodes the confidence that Americans have in the justice system. Unbelievable unfreaking believable.”
