Washington— Republicans derided it verdict in New York Donald Trump “hush money“Thursday’s criminal trial continued with the presumptive nominee for president and alleged bias by the judge – and the jury – against the former president as he was found guilty of all 34 crimes.
“Today is a shameful day in American history,” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement. “This is a pure political exercise, not a legal one.”
In a social media post Thursday afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell wrote that “these allegations were never brought up in the first place.
Trump was convicted by a jury on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide them $130,000 paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about the alleged sexual relationship before the 2016 presidential election. The ruling came as the presidential election was already underway, setting up an unprecedented moment in which the presumptive Republican candidate would be a convicted felon — and can even go to jail during his campaign, although many legal analysts say that it is reliable.
But prominent Republicans wasted no time before coming to the former president’s side. Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida who is among the list of individuals considered to be a candidate for Trump’s running mate, called the verdict “a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our justice system.”
“Biden and the Trump left will stop at nothing to stay in power,” Rubio said in a post on social media.
Senator JD Vance, an Ohio Republican who is also believed to be on the short list and is among a group of GOP lawmakers who traveled to the Manhattan courthouse to support the former president, said the verdict was an “absolute miscarriage of justice.”
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“The partisan tilt of this jury pool shows why we need to put politics at the ballot box and not in the courtroom,” he said in a post on social media.
On “CBS Mornings” on Friday, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas said the ruling has changed nothing about his support for Trump. “This is a fake political show trial, right from the start,” he said.
“As President Trump just said … the real verdict will come on November 5 and it will be made by the American people,” Cotton added.
Many Republicans have pointed out that trials and jury selection take place in New York City, which is generally more liberal than other parts of the country. And some have accused the judge of bias, claiming that the family profited from the case.
House Republican conference chairwoman Elise Stefanik said the verdict “shows how corrupt and deceitful the American justice system is under Joe Biden.”
“I fully support President Trump’s appeal of this decision and look forward to the New York Court of Appeals delivering justice and overturning this ruling,” Stefanik said in a statement, calling the case a “zombie case” brought by Mr. Biden’s allies to “save him.” Biden’s failed campaign.” He added that Republicans “need to redouble their efforts and work continuously to ensure President Trump wins this November to save America from Biden’s failed Democratic Left agenda.”
Rep. Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio who leads the House Judiciary Committee, called the verdict a “travesty of justice,” alleging that it was “designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail.”
“Americans saw through the Democrats’ legal tactics and knew President Trump would be vindicated on appeal,” Jordan said.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, shared a picture on social media of the upside down flag.
-Nikole Killion and Alan He contributed reporting.
