The trial in New York that resulted in the conviction of presidential candidate Donald Trump was described as a farce by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
He claimed that the trial was orchestrated by the current US president, Joe Biden, as a means to target a political adversary. Trump was found guilty by a Manhattan jury on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, marking him as the first former US president to be convicted of a felony.
The prosecution argued that Trump had illicitly concealed a payment made by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election to ensure her silence about an alleged affair from ten years prior.
Trump has refuted the allegations of an affair with Daniels, and his legal team has expressed intentions to challenge the verdict.
Members of the Republican Party, including Greg Abbott and House Speaker Mike Johnson, criticized the trial on social media platforms. Abbott labeled it as a “sham show trial” and accused the sitting US President of manipulating the justice system for political gain.
Johnson condemned the trial as “lawfare” and accused Democrats of using the justice system to suppress dissent and eliminate political opponents.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton reaffirmed his unwavering support for Donald Trump following the trial, stating that his backing for the former president remains steadfast despite the outcome of the trial.
As the Attorney General of Texas, I am committed to utilizing all available resources to combat the evident corruption and political persecution emanating from New York and the Biden administration,” he declared on X.
Even certain Republicans who had previously harbored doubts about Trump’s potential 2024 presidential candidacy were in agreement regarding the outcome. Senator John Cornyn threw his support behind Trump late last year, despite earlier reservations about the former president’s chances of success. “The outcome is a travesty,” he stated on X, further stating: “we must unite behind” Donald Trump, “regain control of the White House and Senate, and steer this country back on course. The true verdict will be rendered on Election Day.”
“Regardless of his criminal conviction, Trump will secure the Republican nomination for president,” declared President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris’ reelection campaign in a statement following the trial. “The danger posed by Trump to our democracy has never been more pronounced,” they expressed on X, urging the public to reject him in November.
