The various primary opponents of former President Donald Trump have largely spoken out in defense of the former President, or bashed Democrats for pushing a politically motivated case to trial. However, a few have remained silent, in a telling indicator of their stance on the former president.
On Thursday afternoon, Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to payments made to porn actress Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election, in an unprecedented and highly controversial decision.
Within hours, many of Trump’s former opponents came out to defend him against the conviction, with many alleging that it was overtly politically motivated and intended to keep him tied up prior to the 2024 election.
“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,” wrote Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“That this case — involving alleged misdemeanor business records violations from nearly a decade ago — was even brought is a testament to the political debasement of the justice system in places like New York City,” he added. “This is especially true considering this same district attorney routinely excuses criminal conduct in a way that has endangered law-abiding citizens in his jurisdiction.
“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. In America, the rule of law should be applied in a dispassionate, even-handed manner, not become captive to the political agenda of some kangaroo court.”
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) took to X as well, posting a video of himself blasting the trial.
“I can’t believe the hoax, the sham, the absolute injustice justice system,” he began. “DA Bragg and the judge should be ashamed of themselves. This isn’t just ridiculous, this actually erodes the confidence that Americans have in the justice system. Unbelievable.”
“But good news is coming. DA Bragg, hear me clearly. You cannot silence the American people,” he continued. “You cannot stop us from voting for change. Joe Biden’s injustice, Joe Biden’s two-tier injustice system, weaponizing the justice system of the United States of America against a political opponent, un-American. Joe Biden, you’re fired. We the people stand with Donald Trump.”
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum wrote, “This verdict is a travesty of justice. The judge was a Biden donor. The prosecutors were Biden supporters. This Lawfare should scare every American. The American people will have their say in November,” wrote North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy argued that the trial’s outcome would most likely lead to a more negative outcome for the Biden administration than a positive one, citing Democrat District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s promise to “nail Trump,” which he had made while campaigning for the position.
“The verdict is an outrage. A monster has been unleashed,” wrote commentator Larry Elder, “If Democrats don’t think Republican AGs and DAs can’t unleash lawfare on Democrat politicians, think again!!!”
Former Vice President Mike Pence, who has clashed several times with the former president, defended his former boss, telling Fox News that Trump’s conviction was “an outrage and disservice to the nation.”
“No one is above the law, but our courts must not become a tool to be used against political opponents. To millions of Americans, this was nothing more than a political prosecution driven by a Manhattan DA who ran for office on a pledge to indict the former president and this conviction undermines confidence in our system of justice,” he said.
However, some of Trump’s critics were not so quick to go after the Democrats behind the case, but came out in defense of the verdict. One such critic, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, called on the verdict to be respected.
“It is not easy to see a former President and the presumptive GOP nominee convicted of felony crimes; but the jury verdict should be respected,” he said. “An appeal is in order but let’s not diminish the significance of this verdict.”
Other critics of Trump have not yet spoken out on the verdict, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, former Texas Rep. Will Hurd, and Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.Haley posted on X on Friday regarding hostages of Hamas in Gaza, but was silent on Trump.
The post Trump’s Former Primary Opponents React To His Conviction In New York Trial: Responses Split appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: John Symank
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