Former President Trump’s guilty verdict in his New York City hush money trial is throwing the presidential election into uncertain territory as Republicans and Democrats grapple with how to move forward in the wake of the historic development.
Reactions to the verdict from both sides of the aisle poured in Thursday, with Trump immediately fundraising off the announcement, while the Biden campaign proclaimed the trial’s outcome proves “no one is above the law.” The Trump campaign’s donation page even briefly crashed in the moments after the decision was handed down.
But with sentencing taking place just four days before the Republican National Convention, both campaigns will be forced to confront a scenario that no other U.S. presidential campaign has ever faced before.
“[President Biden] is running against a convicted felon,” said Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist. “I don’t know if we’ve ever swam in this water as a country.”
Trump on Thursday became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime when he was found guilty on all 34 charges in a case involving hush money payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. It was one of four cases Trump is grappling with heading into the fall, but likely the only one in which a decision will be reached before November.
Trump’s allies immediately lashed out at the verdict, likening it to “imprisoning political opponents.”
“We are living in a banana republic,” said Dan Eberhart, a Trump donor. “Welcome to the United States of Burma.”
A number of other Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), predicted Trump would appeal the decision and win. And many suggested it would have a minimal impact — or even aid — Trump in November.
Read more at Thehill.com
What Are Your Thoughts?
