Ohio politicians react after Trump found guilty in hush money trial
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Representatives from Ohio are making their thoughts public after former president Donald Trump was found guilty Thursday of 34 felony charges.
Trump became the first former president to become a convicted felon with the verdict. All 34 of the counts were falsifying business records, in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, a porn actress who said the two had sex.
Various politicians from both sides of the aisle — including Trump himself — moved quickly in sharing statements about the trial’s historic outcome.
Donald Trump
“This was a disgrace,” Trump said in a brief appearance after the reading. “This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt … This was a rigged, disgraceful trial.”
Biden-Harris Campaign
“Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain,” current President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign team wrote. But today’s verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.”
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine
The Ohio governor declined to comment to NBC4 on the verdict.
Ohio Speaker of the House Rep. Jason Stephens
“Voted for him in the 2016 and 2020 elections. Looking forward to a victor this November.”
U.S. Sen. JD Vance
“This verdict is an absolute miscarriage of justice,” Vance said. “While the outcome of this trial will no doubt be subject to appeal, it’s a disgrace to our judicial system that such measures will be necessary. The partisan slant of this jury pool shows why we ought to litigate politics at the ballot box and not in the courtroom. Ultimately, I have faith that the 2024 election will be decided by the American people, not corrupt judges and prosecutors.”
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown
Ohio’s Democrat senator had not made a public statement on the verdict as of 6 p.m.
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan
Jordan, who represents parts of Delaware and Union counties, called the verdict a “travesty of justice.”
“The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Biden’s failing radical policies,” Jordan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
U.S. Rep. Mike Carey
Carey, who represents part of Franklin County, said the trial “eroded American’s faith in their justice system.”
“Today’s decision is proof that these charges were always political,” Carey wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Make no mistake: the voters, not a judge, will decide the next election.”
U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty
The Democrat U.S. representative over much of Franklin County and some parts of Licking County had not made a public statement on the verdict as of 6 p.m.
U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson
The Republican U.S. representative over parts of Licking County called the trial “rigged from the get-go.”
“When Democrats cannot win on the campaign trail, they fight dirty in the courts,” Balderson wrote on X. “President Trump was right, even Mother Teresa couldn’t beat these ridiculous charges.”
U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno
“Today is a dark day for American democracy,” Moreno wrote. “Joe Biden and his leftwing allies engaged in election interference – in front of the American people – to prosecute their top political opponent on bogus charges. This verdict is representative of a banana republic, not a democracy.”
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