WJTV-TV Jackson
Mississippi lawmakers react after Trump found guilty of felony crimes
By Kaitlin Howell, Richard Lake
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Mississippi lawmakers reacted after Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes Thursday.
A New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.
Trump is expected to quickly appeal the verdict and will face an awkward dynamic as he seeks to return to the campaign trail as a convicted felon. He is expected to be sentenced on July 11, just days before Republicans are set to select him as 2024 nominee.
Mississippi lawmakers reacted to the verdict on Thursday.
“This prosecution has been an outrageous perversion of our system of justice. Unless reversed, it could set a disturbing precedent in which our courts are weaponized by one party against the other. Today is a dark day for the rule of law,” said U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
“This has always been a politically-motivated sham prosecution. I am confident this injustice will be overturned on appeal. The American people see straight through this blatant attempt to influence an election by weaponizing our legal system. Democrats can’t win on their failed policies, so they’re doing everything imaginable to distract focus away from Biden’s incompetence. It won’t work, and I look forward to seeing President Trump sworn in again next January,” said U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).
“Justice has prevailed!” said U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.).
“The lawless conviction of President Donald Trump only reflects the desperation of President Biden and the corrupt methods he will use to steal this election. I am confident that justice will prevail, and the people of America will not reward the leftwing wannabe dictators abusing our justice system in November,” said Gov. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.).
“All jurors deserve thanks and respect. They are the foundation of the best judicial system in the world (though not perfect). The @GOP @MSGOP leadership has a lot of soul searching to do,” said State Senator Brice Wiggins (R-District 52).
“I’m not a criminal lawyer, so I can’t offer much to what happened. But I am a voter and a Republican, so I can offer this: Trump has my vote/support today, and he’ll have my vote/support in November,” said State Senator Jeremy England (R-District 51).
“Lawfare. He will appeal. He will raise millions more. @realDonaldTrump is victim to a corrupt justice system,” said State Senator Joel R. Carter, Jr. (R-District 49).