In a historic verdict delivered just after 5 p.m. Thursday, a jury in Manhattan found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records stemming from a "hush money" payment made by his former attorney to porn star Stormy Daniels. The jurors reached their verdict after nine and a half hours of deliberations over two days.
It remains to be seen how the verdict might influence the November general election, but Trump now carries the distinction of being the first presidential felon.
Perhaps appropriately, the first to step up to the virtual microphone was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who last year mounted his own abortive presidential campaign. [Editor's note: Technically, the first to step up was, even more appropriately, Donald Trump, who was weighing in on his own platform, Truth Social, before the jury finished its deliberations and would continue to for several hours after. Scroll down to the end of this post if you care to let Trump have the last words.]
"If the defendant were not Donald Trump, this case would never have been brought, the judge would have never issued similar rulings, and the jury would have never returned a guilty verdict," DeSantis posted on X at 5:11 p.m. EDT.
Republican U.S. Sen. and veteran Trump champion/rumored VP wannabe Marco Rubio wasn't far behind, calling the verdict "a travesty" and the proceedings "a political show trial."Today’s verdict represents the culmination of a legal process that has been bent to the political will of the actors involved: a leftist prosecutor, a partisan judge and a jury reflective of one of the most liberal enclaves in America—all in an effort to “get” Donald Trump.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 30, 2024
That…
Carlos Guillermo Smith, a proudly LGBTQ former Florida state representative and current Democratic candidate for a Florida senate seat, didn't mince words at 5:16 p.m.The verdict in New York is a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our system of justice
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) May 30, 2024
A political show trial conducted by an openly pro-Biden judge whose daughter makes money off the case, a jury from the most liberal county in America, absurd and ridiculous charges and…
Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott was "furious" at a "sham trial" he deemed "the clearest example we've ever seen of election interference.Lock. Him. Up. pic.twitter.com/lTUm5aGp7k
— Carlos Guillermo Smith (@CarlosGSmith) May 30, 2024
Republican U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart let it be known a few minutes later that the case was "an obvious and blatant travesty of justice, "a political witch hunt," and "a direct threat to our democracy." In Díaz-Balart's estimation, "This case should never have seen the light of day."This was a sham trial and the clearest example we’ve ever seen of election interference. I am furious and no American is safe from Democrat political persecution.
— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) May 30, 2024
Joe Biden and the Democrat machine manufactured a legal case against Trump to win an election. I went to New York… pic.twitter.com/Hp8oM81Fdn
"Trump can’t vote for himself in the November election. He can thank Florida Republicans for that," Democratic Florida state Sen. Jason Pizzo tweeted. (The jury is, shall we say, still out on that assertion.)The case against former President Trump is an obvious and blatant travesty of justice and a political witch hunt.
— Mario Díaz-Balart (@MarioDB) May 30, 2024
This is a direct threat to our democracy. This case should never have seen the light of day.
More on my statement below. pic.twitter.com/rQhgtaHmxK
Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz:Trump can’t vote for himself in the November election. He can thank Florida Republicans for that.
— Sen. Jason Pizzo (@senpizzo) May 30, 2024
Democratic U.S. Rep. Val Demings, former Orlando chief of police:This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA.
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) May 30, 2024
We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country.
"This political show trial is a page taken straight out of #Nicaragua’s socialist dictator Daniel Ortega’s playbook," Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos A. Giménez posted. "Ortega jailed his political opponents to guarantee his re-election & now Biden has weaponized the justice system against the Republican presidential nominee."Serving on a jury is always a sacrifice but we know the special pressure that was on this jury.
— Val Demings (@valdemings) May 30, 2024
We thank God for these men and women who were willing to serve and follow the evidence where it led them.
No one is above the law.
Giménez, a second-term congressman, served as mayor of Miami-Dade County from 2011 until he unseated Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in 2020.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz:🚨This political show trial is a page taken straight out of #Nicaragua’s socialist dictator Daniel Ortega’s playbook.
— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) May 30, 2024
Ortega jailed his political opponents to guarantee his re-election & now Biden has weaponized the justice system against the Republican presidential nominee.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson:A former president being convicted is nothing to be celebrated, but it is an affirmation that nobody is above the law. This verdict was reached by a jury of Trump’s peers, by citizens of the American justice system, not by a judge or by a political opponent.
— Congressman Jared Moskowitz (@RepMoskowitz) May 30, 2024
U.S. House Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz concurred with Wilson, opining that "it proves even the powerful must be held to account."NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW, including the four-time indicted, twice impeached, and now convicted felon, President Trump.
— Rep. Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) May 30, 2024
There was no witch hunt—just the impartial application of the law. Republicans should reconsider the disgraceful figure they're pushing to lead our nation.
As promised, Donald Trump gets the last words:A jury of Trump’s peers were clear: not even ex-presidents are above the law.
— Debbie Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) May 31, 2024
This conviction comes against a man who used fraud to try to influence, then overturn a fair election, so it comes as no surprise. But it proves even the powerful must be held to account.
"MY CIVIL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TOTALLY VIOLATED WITH THIS HIGHLY POLITICAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND ELECTION INTERFERING WITCH HUNT. OUR FAILING NATION IS BEING LAUGHED AT ALL OVER THE WORLD!"
