Reactions flooded in from St. Louis-area leaders on both sides of the aisle Thursday afternoon.
ST. LOUIS — Donald Trump was convicted by a New York jury Thursday of paying hush money to a porn star who claimed to have had sex with him and falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election, making him the first former president to be convicted of a felony.
After nine and a half hours of deliberations over two days, jurors found Trump guilty of all 34 charges. Trump sat expressionless as the verdict was read, while cheers could be heard in the court’s 15th-floor hallway from the street below, where supporters and opponents of the former president had gathered.
Responses flooded in from St. Louis-area leaders on both sides of the aisle Thursday afternoon.
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (Republican, Missouri)
“This is a dark day for America. Joe Biden has weaponized our justice system to attack one of the greatest presidents in history. Democrats are trying to steal an election again. This legal war will not be tolerated. This will not stop (Donald Trump) from winning. Appeal!”
Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R-Missouri)
“Here in Missouri, we value the rule of law. A state that allows the prosecution of political opponents creates chaos.”
“President Trump was just the beginning.
Congressman Mike Bost (Republican, Illinois 12th District)
“The six-week sham trial of President Trump in New York has eroded the public’s faith in our judicial system in a way that will take years to restore. This trial, with its surrounding character attacks, campaign interference and Hollywood cameos, all had one purpose: to weaken President Trump ahead of the 2024 election. But that will not work. Even after today’s verdict, President Trump remains strengthened by an American people who are tired of liberals weaponizing our justice system for their own partisan political gain.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri)
In a series of posts on X, Hawley said, “This is Democrat-run America. Indicting political opponents, whether they are pro-life Americans or a former president…This ‘trial’ has been a complete sham from start to finish, a mockery of our criminal justice system and one of the most dangerous abuses of the political process in American history…Not since the Alien Sedition Act of the 1790s has a president attempted to criminalize a political opponent. Congratulations Joe Biden. You are the worst president ever.”
Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe (R-Missouri)
“This trial is a political ploy and a complete weaponization of our justice system. The American people will overwhelmingly re-elect President Trump in November.”
Governor JB Pritzker (D-IL)
“Donald Trump is a racist, a homophobe, a con man and a threat to this country. He can now add another title to that list: felon.”
Congressman Jason Smith (Republican, Missouri 8th District)
“The Democrats have never stopped their false, partisan witch hunt against President Trump. This sham ‘trial’ was orchestrated by a George Soros-backed district attorney and left-wing judges to rule against President Trump. The American people see this as an attempt to distract attention from Biden’s weak and failed leadership.”
Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO)
“What happened in New York is a travesty of the rule of law and the Constitution. Democrats have opened Pandora’s box and fully utilized the judicial process as a weapon against President Trump. This was a Soviet-style show trial of Joe Biden’s biggest political opponent and showed irreparable disregard for the American justice system. President Trump was acquitted on appeal and the American people will reject this unprecedented legal challenge in November.”
