A majority of New York voters believe the state’s trial against former President Trump was legitimate, according to a new Empire State poll.
The Siena College poll asked New York voters their thoughts on the Trump trial and the criminal charges filed against the former president, just days after the case officially began in a Manhattan courtroom.
Approximately 54% of New Yorkers believe the trial was “legal,” while 34% view the trial as a “witch hunt.”
Those who think President Trump’s trial was justified include 77% of Democrats and 44% of independents. About 66% of Republican respondents said they viewed the incident as a “witch hunt” against the former president.
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This courtroom sketch shows prosecutor Matthew Colangelo giving his opening statement as former President Trump looks on before Judge Juan Marchan with his attorney Todd Blanche at Manhattan State Court on April 22, 2024 in New York City. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
The majority of respondents, 60%, said they were paying either “somewhat or a lot of attention” to developments in the historic trial.
New York prosecutors allege President Trump tried to cover up with false business records
The charges against Trump include 34 counts of falsifying business records, including paying hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
Prosecutors unveiled new criminal charges at Tuesday’s hearing, charging that the former president was also involved in a “conspiracy to promote or prevent elections.”
Although a majority of New Yorkers said they found the trial justified, Trump still had more support among New York state independents than President Biden and Democratic Gov. Cathy Hochul.
The sun sets over the Lower Manhattan skyline as people ride along the Hudson River on February 25, 2024 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Gary Hershawn/Getty Images)
According to the poll, 45% of independents said they had a favorable opinion of the former president, but only 29% viewed Biden positively.
The poll also found that Biden’s favorability and job performance ratings have declined among New York voters.
“The good news for Biden is that he continues to maintain a double-digit lead over Trump in deep blue New York. The bad news for Biden is that he continues to maintain a double-digit lead over Trump in deep blue New York. The bad news for Biden is that Biden leads by 48-36%, then by 10 points at 47-37%. “In February, registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans by more than 2 to 1,” Stephen Greenberg, a pollster at Siena College, said in a press release with the results. . “Biden is supported by 72% of Democrats, while Trump is supported by 81% of Republicans and leads by 46% to 32% among independents.”
Former President Trump leaves Trump Tower on his way to Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday, April 15, 2024 in New York. (Yuki Iwamura/AP Images)
About 64% of respondents also said they believe the country is on the wrong path with the 2024 presidential election just months away.
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The Siena College poll was conducted from April 15th to 17th and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.
