Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower in New York, Friday, May 31, 2024. The day after a New York jury convicted Donald Trump of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee spoke out about the conviction, seemingly trying to shed new light on his campaign. (AP Photo/Julia Nickinson)
WHEELING – West Virginia leaders and aspiring leaders spoke out about the guilty verdict handed down Thursday in the trial of former President Donald Trump, who was found guilty of 34 felony counts in a New York courtroom, making him the first former president to be convicted of a felony.
Democrats generally believe the court’s action shows that the law applies to everyone, even the rich and powerful.
Many Republicans, however, see the ruling as calling into question the integrity of the US justice system, while others see it as an opportunity to encourage Americans to send money to Trump’s campaign.
Jim Justice, the current governor of West Virginia and a Republican candidate for the Senate, said, “This election will be decided by the American people, not a biased judge in a New York courtroom where fraud was committed.”
“What is happening in America?” Justice asked in a statement. “The conviction of President Donald Trump is a deeply disturbing, politically motivated decision that undermines the principles of justice. The witch hunt against President Trump continues.”
“President Trump has always put America first and fought for the values that make our country great. He and the Trump family are America’s champions. … I will always value my friendship with Donald J. Trump and the Trump family and will never waver in my support. We must all work together to win President Trump’s reelection in November.”
He suggested the quickest way to support Trump is to “donate $1, $10, $100 or whatever you can afford to help ensure his campaign has the resources to beat Joe Biden and the Democrats in November.”
Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, Justice’s Democratic opponent in the Senate race, did not immediately respond to calls and messages Friday.
West Virginia’s current Attorney General, Patrick Morrisey, who is also a Republican candidate for governor this year, called Thursday’s conviction of Trump “an affront and outrage against our constitutional republic” and pledged to continue working to protect Donald Trump.
“What has just happened is outrageous on a level we haven’t seen in many years,” Morrissey said in a video statement. “This Trump trial has not been justice. It has been political persecution of the highest order. The entire process has been tainted by improper political motives.”
“What has just happened is outrageous on a level we haven’t seen in a long time. This is a false accusation against President Trump. As I’m sure you all know, this is a violation of the law on a level we haven’t seen in a long time, certainly not in my lifetime.”
He suggested that Trump’s trial in Manhattan should never have reached the trial stage.
“These political prosecutions, these so-called ‘witch hunts’, are happening at the highest level,” Morrissey said. “What would normally be considered misdemeanors are being turned into felonies as Democrats try to attack the Republican presidential nominee.”
“That shouldn’t be happening in America. We must be staunchly opposed. Under normal circumstances, they would never do what they are doing here. We must make sure that response is felt across the country.”
Morrissey hopes the lawsuit will be overturned.
“I think it’s because the court tried to misinstruct the jury by conflating these different potential crimes,” he said. “Ultimately, I think these arguments were born out of an improper political purpose.”
Steve Williams, a Democratic candidate for West Virginia governor and current Huntington mayor, praised the court and jury for their actions.
“It is a sad day for our country that a former president has been convicted of a felony,” he said. “The United States is not a banana republic that uses our sacrosanct justice system to frame political opponents.
“The rule of law was put to the test and I find hope because there was no disruption or obstruction in the trial process. I seek hope because my number one priority will always be to protect and defend the Constitution and our system of governance.”
Candidates to replace Attorney General Morrisey have spoken out about convicting President Trump.
“We are deeply disappointed by this verdict,” said J.B. McCaskey, the current state auditor and current Republican candidate for attorney general. “We hope that the appeals court will vindicate Mr. Trump.”
“As Attorney General, I will continue to support a fair justice system free from political bias and support the President’s energetic campaign, and I look forward to attending his inauguration next year.”
– Wheeling attorney Teresa Triceba is the Democratic candidate for attorney general and serves as first vice chair of the West Virginia Democratic Party.
“No one is above the law,” she said. “The 12 jurors were ordinary citizens chosen by both sides in the trial and asked to do a job they did not want to do. They returned their unanimous verdict after weeks of testimony and nearly 12 hours of deliberation.”
“Although Trump did not testify, he has an automatic right to appeal. This law applies to everyone, including the rich and powerful.”
But Republican leaders continued to argue that Democratic politics and power influenced the outcome of the Trump case.
They also saw Thursday’s guilty plea as an opportunity to encourage donations to his campaign, with many including links to his campaign webpage in their social media posts.
“They tried to get Donald Trump off the ballot, now they’re trying to get him off the campaign trail,” said Matt Herridge, chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party. “This is what it’s all about. Democrats don’t believe Joe Biden can win the vote, so they’re literally resorting to a show trial to undermine Trump.”
“What we witnessed in this sham trial in Manhattan is a true nadir for our country. The Biden Justice Department and liberal judges have completely trampled on the standards of American justice. We must all stand up and speak out while the American people see this through.”
“It was just a rushed donation to President Trump’s campaign,” Herridge said.
“I want to turn this tragedy into a huge fundraising week for the Trump campaign,” he continued. “The American people will not flinch. Donald Trump will ultimately win. West Virginia and the American people are more ready than ever to send Donald Trump back to the White House.”
But West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Mike Pushkin pointed out that the jury was made up of people who found the former president guilty of 34 felony counts.
“While my friends on the other side are competing to stoke outrage and raise campaign funds with false, misleading and completely irresponsible statements of blind loyalty to a flawed man, I want to point out a few things,” he said.
“Democrats did not convict Trump. Biden did not convict Trump. He was found guilty by a jury of his peers who heard the evidence, deliberated and reached a unanimous conclusion.”
We should be proud that we live in a nation governed by laws, not by men or dictators. This is what makes America great. This is what has always made America great.”
All of West Virginia’s Republican congressional delegation have voiced their support for Trump.
“The case against President Trump has been politically motivated from the beginning,” said Senator Shelley Moore Capito. “The voice of the American people should be heard through the ballot box, not through corrupt prosecutors. I am confident this will be overturned.”
Capito’s colleague, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, announced Friday he was leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent.
He could not be reached for comment Friday, but a member of his staff said the Thursday following the verdict was what he called a “sad day.”
Rep. Alex Mooney pointed to the influx of Democratic money against President Trump that could influence his conviction.
“The only one cheering today is communist sympathizer George Soros, whose bigoted New York district attorney has brought very old charges against President Trump in heavily Democratic areas,” Mooney said. “President Joe Biden’s limitless spending policies are fueling record inflation and hurting American families.”
“Mr. Trump will appeal this verdict and I am confident that he will ultimately prevail. He has my full support and that of the vast majority of the American people.”
Rep. Carol Miller called it a “sad day for America.”
“This sentence is clearly politically motivated and it is egregious that politics have corrupted our justice system,” she said. “If President Trump is re-elected in November and Republicans gain control of the House and Senate, we will ensure that people are punished for committing crimes, not for politics.”
