Former President Trump found guilty, local CT and Long Island officials react to verdict
Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty of falsifying business records to influence the outcome of the 2016 election, a historic verdict as Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, campaigns again for the White House. Local Connecticut and Long Island officials react to the historic verdict.
CT Democratic Senate leaders called their Republican colleagues' statements "reckless"
"We are troubled to see Republican legislative leaders side with election deniers and play into Trump's dangerous accusation that the process is rigged. Donald Trump is rightfully a convicted felon. Any statement to the contrary is a dangerous attack on our Constitution and the principles of American democracy. No one is above the law and we were all better off when that was something both political parties believed in."
CT Republican leaders say the trial was a weaponization of the justice system
Connecticut Republican leaders Rep. Vincent Candelora (Branford) and Stephen Harding (Bethlehem) said the trial was a weaponization of the justice system.
"As attorneys, we have the utmost respect for the American justice system and share an unequivocal belief in the rule of law. As legislators, we do all we can to support the work of our judges, juries, and prosecutors in preserving the most fundamental institutions of our republic. However, we cannot ignore the fact that the events that have transpired in New York City point to a weaponization of those very institutions to achieve a political end. These events have created a highly troubling scenario which will invariably end up on appeal and raise serious Constitutional challenges. The one thing we are sure of is that our Constitution will prevail."
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said she respects the jury’s verdict
Echoing many of her Democratic colleagues, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said she respects the jury’s verdict.
“No one should be above the law,” Gillibrand said. “Like every criminal defendant, Mr. Trump had the opportunity to mount a vigorous defense and to be judged by a jury of his peers.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the verdict proves no one is above the law
"In preparation for a verdict in this trial, I directed my administration to closely coordinate with local and federal law enforcement and we continue to monitor the situation," Hochul said.
"We are committed to protecting the safety of all New Yorkers and the integrity of our judicial system."
Her office did not respond to a request for comment on Rep. LaLota's call for her to preemptively pardon the ex-president.
Rep. LaLota calls on Gov. Kathy Hochul to take action
First-term Republican, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY) called on Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, to take action.
“The best way to unwind Alvin Bragg’s political prosecution and today’s conviction is for Governor Hochul to immediately announce her intention to pardon President Trump and pre-emptively commute any sentence,” LaLota said in a statement.
“To not do so is to allow America to become a Banana Republic. President Trump’s fate, and the 2024 presidential election, should be decided by voters, not overzealous politically motivated prosecutors and an imbalanced jury.”
Rep. D’Esposito says the verdict is a "witch hunt"
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY4) said the verdict was "a shameful witch hunt ... by railroading a conviction through a partisan New York court."
"I have testified in court against countless convicts," said D'Esposito, a Republican freshman and former NYPD detective. "It is clear to me that Democrats are so afraid of engaging in a fair fight against President Trump that they continue to weaponize the justice system in an attempt to stop him."
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy says a conviction matters
“Newsflash: It matters that the Republican nominee for President is a convicted criminal,” U.S Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) posted on X.
“The rule of law still matters. And this won't be his last conviction. He's committed multiple crimes and he's going to be convicted multiple times. He can never be President again.”
Former Long Island Congressman Lee Zeldin reacts
Former Long Island Congressman and 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin called the case against Trump "a political persecution, designed to interfere with the 2024 [presidential] election."
"This sham trial was a campaign inside of a campaign to secure a talking point, regardless of how much damage it could cause to our country and criminal justice system," Zeldin said.