Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) slammed the Manhattan hush-money case on Friday, calling it “absurd,” the day after former President Trump was convicted at trial.
“This should never have gone to trial. This is absurd.” Huckabee Said Leland Vittert, reporter for NewsNation. “More people are finding out about this.”
“The jurors were not given a lot of the information that most of us would understand. I’m going to cut them some slack because they didn’t understand,” he continued, “but the American people saw through that. And that’s why we saw the massive fundraising success of the Trump campaign.”
Asked what he thought would happen if New York Governor Kathy Hockle (Democrat) pardoned the former president, Huckabee said it would be a show of clemency from the governor, but added, “I don’t think she would grant a pardon.”
His comments came after Trump was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with his alleged payment of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels early in the 2016 election to keep her quiet about an alleged past affair – a charge he denies.
The former president slammed his conviction at a news conference in the lobby of Manhattan’s Trump Tower on Friday morning, claiming the trial was “rigged” and saying he was “honored” to stand trial as the first U.S. president to be convicted.
The Trump campaign said on Friday that it has raised more than $52 million since Trump was convicted, the first time since the campaign broke its single-day record for small donor contributions.
“President Trump and our campaign are incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from patriots across the country. President Trump is fighting to save our country, and November 5th is the day the American people will make a true decision,” two campaign aides said.
Asked what would happen if Trump were sentenced to prison, the former governor reiterated that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who filed the lawsuit against Trump, said it would be “absurd” to jail the former president for alleged “bookkeeping crimes.”
“If he were to appoint a former president,” Huckabee said. [in jail] With this stupid bookkeeping issue, I don’t even think it’s a crime, but if he really tried to do that, the last person leaving New York should turn off the lights.”
A guilty verdict for Trump would not bar him from running for president, but with the November election just over two months away, it could lead to uncharted territory.
Judge Juan Marchan set the sentencing hearing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention, where the former president is expected to become the official GOP nominee running against President Biden.
NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.
