House Democrats on Thursday hailed the guilty verdict of former President Trump in the New York hush-money case, praising the conviction as a victory for the justice system and proof that no one is above the law, including the former commander in chief.
Some liberals were in euphoria shortly after the verdict was read, expressing excitement that the 12-member jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, a verdict that could lead to prison time for the former president.
“Hallelujah!!!” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.)I wrote to X“I was right! Three years ago, during a speech for the Human Rights Campaign, I predicted that Stormy Daniels would get Trump. My faith in the criminal justice system has grown!”
“Yes!” Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) chimed in with an X, along with emojis of scales of justice and an American flag.
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), a former chairman of the House Progressive Caucus, shared a GIF of late-night TV host Seth Meyers saying, “Totally guilty.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) paid tribute to the “Put her in jail” chants that once filled Trump rallies – calls to put Hillary Clinton in jail.
“What about that slogan he used to sing at his rallies?” Garcia said.I wrote to X.
With Thursday’s guilty verdict, which came after nearly 10 hours of jury deliberations and weeks of witness testimony, Trump once again made history by becoming the first former US president to be convicted of a crime. In brief comments shortly after the verdict was read, the former president slammed his conviction, calling it a “disgrace” and insisting that “I am a totally innocent man.”
The judge set a date for ruling on July 11, just days before Trump will officially become the Republican nominee at the Republican National Convention.
While some House Democrats expressed excitement immediately after Trump’s conviction, others had a more measured reaction, describing the verdict as a “solemn moment.”
“This is a significant and solemn moment for our country, but we have reached this point only because the rule of law is strong,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.).I wrote to X.
“Today, 12 Americans found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts. This is a solemn moment as it marks the first time in our nation’s history that a president has been found a felon,” said Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.).Reflected in X.
“Today, justice was served in Lower Manhattan,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-New York), who led the two impeachment trials of Trump.
“Former President Trump’s relentless attempts to subvert our justice system and undermine the rule of law have failed to overcome the overwhelming and conclusive evidence presented by District Attorney Alvin Bragg,” he said. “As I have said from the beginning of this trial, no one is above the law, not even a former president.”
But the New York Democrat added that he “couldn’t be prouder to be a New Yorker now that Manhattan has led the way in convicting him of a felon.”
