Congressional Republicans rushed to Donald Trump’s defense Thursday immediately after a jury convicted the former president of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments made to a porn star.

They argued Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee this year, was the victim of a politically driven case aimed at damaging his chances of returning to the White House.

Meanwhile, Democrats in Washington said the case proves no one, even a former president, is above the law.

“Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain,” Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said in a statement. “But today’s verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality.”

White House spokesperson Ian Sams issued a one-sentence reaction: “We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment.”

Michael Cohen, Trump's former attorney and fixer who was the prosecution's star witness, wrote on X: "Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law. While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters."

Cohen testified he arranged a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep her from going public with her story that she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Cohen said the payment was made at Trump's direction to help his 2016 campaign. Prosecutors argued the falsifying of business records to repay Cohen was done to cover up a federal campaign finance law violation, making the offenses felonies. 

Top House Republicans released statements blasting Thursday's verdict just moments after it was read.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called it “a shameful day in American history.”

“Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon,” he said. “This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. 

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., said “Extremist Democrats have undermined democracy by weaponizing the courts,” adding: "Today’s verdict is a devastating defeat for any American who believes in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind.”

Scalise made the baseless claim that it was “clear” President Joe Biden “teamed up” with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to go after Trump, a sentiment shared by other GOP lawmakers. 

There is no evidence the Biden administration played any role in the New York case.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., called the verdict “the most egregious example of election interference.”

Senate Republicans argued the Trump guilty verdict proves the American justice system is corrupt because it can be politically manipulated. Some said they anticipate the former president will be exonerated upon appeal.

“This verdict says more about the system than the allegations,” Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, posted on X, formerly Twitter. “It will be seen as politically motivated and unfair, and it will backfire tremendously on the political Left.”

Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin called the verdict a “travesty of justice” and predicted that “our judicial system will never be the same.”

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky posted on X: “How long can our Republic survive once partisans have taken over the judicial process? This verdict will tragically undermine Americans’ confidence in impartial justice.”

Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s oldest son, reacted angrily. 

"The Democrats have succeeded in their years long attempt to turn America into a third-world s***hole,” he said. “November 5 is our last chance to save it."

Democrats who celebrated the verdict largely echoed the same sentiment — that no one is immune from following the law.

"America is a nation built upon the rule of law," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat. "The jury has spoken and carefully rendered a decision. Responsible leadership requires the verdict to be respected."

"Today, twelve ordinary American citizens found a former president guilty of dozens of felonies," said California Rep. Adam Schiff, a U.S. Senate candidate who became a household name during Trump's presidency as a foil against the Republican president. "Despite his efforts to distract, delay, and deny – justice arrived for Donald Trump all the same. And the rule of law prevailed."

"Everyone is entitled to due process, and Donald Trump had his," Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen wrote on X. "This guilty verdict and the many ongoing criminal cases against Trump make it clear to the world: in the United States, no one is above the law."

Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas said she knows many are celebrating the verdict, “but my heart f****** breaks for our country!" 

"How did we get here?!” she said. “When did we stop requiring some darned decency of the most powerful person on Earth?! The grand jurors, the prosecutors, the judge, the witnesses & this jury deserve so much more than they will receive. This was a brave undertaking in an unnecessarily violent & politically charged America. FYI, today was a win for the rule of law!"

California Rep. Maxine Waters did not hide her excitement.

"Hallelujah!!! My predictions came true!" she said. "I predicted three years ago at a speech with the Human Rights Champaign that Stormy Daniels would be the one to get Trump. My faith in the criminal justice system has been strengthened!"

Republicans made their own predictions that the verdict would propel Trump, who is set to be sentenced July 11, to victory in November.

“May 30th, 2024 might be remembered as the day Donald J. Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election,” Eric Trump, one of the former president’s other sons, wrote on X.

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, said he has “faith that the 2024 election will be decided by the American people, not corrupt judges and prosecutors.”

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas called for people to rally around Trump, “take back the White House and Senate, and get this country back on track.”

Likewise, Trump himself said leaving court, “The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people.”

The Biden campaign also pointed to Election Day, saying the verdict “does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.”

Rep. Wiley Nickel, R-N.C., argued on X that “A convicted felon should not be elected to the highest office in our nation."