ST. LOUIS — Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes Thursday as a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.
Jurors deliberated for 9.5 hours over two days before convicting Trump of all 34 counts he faced. Trump sat stone-faced as the verdict was being read, while cheering from the street below — where supporters and detractors of the former president were gathered — could be heard in the hallway on the 15th floor of the courthouse.
Reactions poured in Thursday afternoon from St. Louis-area leaders on both sides of the political aisle.
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R-MO)
"A dark day in America. Joe Biden has weaponized the justice system to go after one of the greatest Presidents in our history. The democrats are trying to steal another election. This lawfare must not stand. This wont stop (Donald Trump) from winning. APPEAL!"
Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R-MO)
"Here in Missouri, we value the rule of law. States who allow the prosecution of political opponents operate in chaos.
"President Trump was only the beginning.
"No one is safe."
U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL 12th District)
"New York’s six-week sham trial against President Trump has eroded the public’s trust in our legal system in a way that will take years to overcome. The trial, along with all the character attacks, campaign interference and Hollywood cameos that surrounded it, had one purpose: to weaken President Trump before the 2024 election. It won’t work. Even after today’s verdict, he is strengthened with an American public that is fed up with liberals weaponizing the legal system for their partisan political gain."
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO)
In a series of posts to X, Hawley said, "This is America under Democrat rule: prosecuting political opponents whether it's pro-life Americans or a former President ... This 'trial' has been from beginning to end a complete and total sham, a mockery of the criminal justice system, and one of the most dangerous abuses of our political process in American history ... Not since the Alien and Sedition Acts in the 1790s has a president tried to CRIMINALIZE his political opposition. Congrats, Joe Biden. You're the worst president ever."
Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe (R-MO)
"This entire trial was a political stunt and a complete weaponization of our judicial system. Americans will overwhelmingly reelect President Trump in November."
Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL)
"Donald Trump is a racist, a homophobe, a grifter, and a threat to this country. He can now add one more title to his list - a felon."
Rep. Jason Smith (R- MO 8th District)
"Democrats have never stopped their sham partisan witch hunt against President Trump. The fix was in for this fake “trial” - the George Soros-backed DA and a leftist judge worked to tilt the scales of justice against President Trump. The American people see this for what it is: an attempt to distract from Biden’s weak and failing leadership."
U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO)
"What happened in New York is a travesty for the rule of law and our Constitution. Democrats have opened Pandora's Box and have fully weaponized the judicial process against President Trump – this was a Soviet-style show trial of Joe Biden's chief political adversary that has irreparably cheapened the American judicial system. President Trump will be vindicated on appeal and the American people will reject this unprecedented lawfare in November."
