Members of Congress were on recess and not in Washington on Thursday as former President Donald Trump’s guilty verdict was handed down in New York, but that didn't stop them from reacting to the historic ruling.
“It’s a sad day for our country when anyone who was a president of the United States, convicted of serious felonies like these, and I think it’s deserved though. I think Trump has lied and stolen, over and over and over. It’s past time he’s held accountable,” Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickel told Spectrum News 1 after the verdict was announced Thursday. “I’m hopeful that the country can begin to heal from Trump’s divisive rhetoric and extremism, and we have some finality here now. And Donald Trump will always be a convicted felon and that’s deservedly so.”
Republicans were quick to criticize the case.
“I am shocked by the verdict considering that this case should have never been brought forward,” said Republican Sen. Thom Tillis on X. “From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals. I expect and hope that President Trump will appeal this verdict.”
Trump's sentencing is scheduled for July 11, and he's expressed his intention to appeal the decision.
Other North Carolina Republicans were also quick to blast the case.
“President Trump deserves the same constitutional rights as any American. But from the start, this was a rigged charade designed to weaponize the justice system to interfere in the presidential election and hurt President Trump,” said Republican Sen. Ted Budd, who also shared a fundraising link for Trump on X.
“Today’s verdict against President Trump is the product of seven years of Democrats lying, fabricating and grasping at anything to take him down,” said Republican Rep. Greg Murphy on X.
Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx also expressed her frustration, “This decision will inevitably be thrown out by an appeal, but the damage will be done. A political opponent will have grounded a presidential candidate and branded his candidacy. This is beyond outrageous.”
North Carolina Democratic lawmakers also reacted to the verdict.
“This is how our legal system is supposed to function. A jury of his peers deliberated the facts and came to this unanimous decision. The bottom line is that no one is above the law," Democratic Rep. Deborah Ross said on X.
“Our country operates under the rule of law. The jury, with the most intimate knowledge of the case, has delivered its verdict, and former President Donald Trump now has the right to seek an appeal,” said Democratic Rep. Don Davis.