Republican President Donald Trump's primary opponents have given varying responses to the conviction at his trial in New York City, ranging from criticizing Democrats for pursuing charges against him to complete silence.
The jury on Thursday found Trump guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying corporate records in connection with the hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott posted a video of himself on
TRUMP VP CONTENDERS TORCH 'GUARANTEED' GUILTY VERDICT: 'COMPLETE TRAVESTY'
Former 2024 Republican presidential candidates from left to right: South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, Florida Governor Roon DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. (Getty Images)
“DA Bragg and the judge should be ashamed of themselves. Not only is this ridiculous, this actually undermines the trust Americans have in the justice system. Unbelievable,” Scott said.
'But there is good news coming. DA Bragg, hear me clearly. You cannot silence the American people. You can't stop us from voting for change. Joe Biden's injustice, Joe Biden's two-pronged system of injustice, which weaponizes the justice system of the United States of America against a political opponent, un-American, you are fired.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum wrote: “This verdict is a travesty of justice. The judge was a Biden donor. The accusers were Biden supporters. This Lawfare should scare every American. The American people will have their say in November,” while entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy predicted that the outcome of the trial would ultimately backfire, citing District Attorney Alvin Bragg's promise to “get Trump” and the daughter of judge Juan Merchan as a 'democratic operative'.
Former Vice President Mike Pence told Fox News Digital that Trump's conviction was “a disgrace and a disservice to the nation.”
“No one is above the law, but our courts should not become a tool to be used against political opponents. For millions of Americans, this was nothing more than a political persecution, driven by a Manhattan district attorney who ran for office promising to bring charges. the former president and this conviction undermines confidence in our justice system,” he said.
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“This conviction also sends a terrible message to the rest of the world about the American justice system and only further divides us at a time when the American people are grappling with the Biden administration's failed policies at home and abroad. Under the law, the former President has every right to appeal this conviction and I trust that it will be overturned on appeal in a manner that will restore public confidence in our system of justice and equal treatment under the law will recover.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wrote: “Today's verdict represents the culmination of a legal process bent to the political will of the actors involved: a left-wing prosecutor, a partisan judge, and a jury that reflects a of the most liberal enclaves in America. – all in an attempt to 'get' Donald Trump.”
“That this case — which involves alleged corporate data breaches dating back nearly a decade — has even been brought is a testament to the political debasement of the justice system in places like New York City,” he wrote. “This is especially true when you consider that the same prosecutor routinely condones criminal behavior in a way that has endangered law-abiding citizens in his jurisdiction.”
“If the defendant had not been Donald Trump, this case would never have been brought, the judge would never have made similar rulings, and the jury would never have returned a guilty verdict. In America, the rule of law should be applied in a dispassionate manner. , in a balanced way, and do not allow yourself to be captured by the political agenda of some kangaroo court.”
TRUMP SAYS GUILTY VERDICT A 'SCAR' ON NEW YORK'S JUDICIAL POSITION, PROMISES TO 'KEEP FIGHTING'
Conservative commentator Larry Elder called the verdict an “outrage” and declared that “a monster has been unleashed.”
“If Democrats don't think Republican AGs and DAs can't unleash justice on Democratic politicians, think again!!!” he added.
Businessman Perry Johnson wrote: “Today marks a troubling chapter in American history. This was always a political maneuver, not a legal one. political rivals.”
“The American people recognize this as a legal issue, and they understand its danger. President Trump will rightly appeal this unjust verdict – and he WILL WIN!” he added.
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Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, a staunch critic of Trump, took a different, unsurprising approach and called for respect for the verdict.
“It is not easy to see a former president and the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party convicted of crimes; but the jury's verdict must be respected. An appeal is appropriate, but let us not downplay the significance of this verdict,” he wrote.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and former Texas Rep. Will Hurd have so far remained silent since the verdict was handed down.
Representatives for Haley did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. A spokesman for Christie declined to comment.
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