GA Leaders React To Trump Guilty Verdict In NY Hush Money Trial

GEORGIA — After former President Donald Trump was historically convicted Thursday of 34 felonies in a New York hush money trial, some Georgia GOP leaders have taken to social media to express their sentiments.

Some of these leaders have spoken against the trial of the former president, who is currently facing election interference charges in Georgia, while others are waiting to see what happens at the ballot box in November. One Democratic leader believes "no one is above the law."

A Manhattan jury convicted Trump of falsifying business records after about two days of deliberations, which began late Wednesday morning. By Thursday afternoon, the jury alerted the judge that a decision was reached. Sentencing is set for July 11.

"The real verdict will be on November 5th by the people—they know what happened here," Trump said Thursday on his Truth Social account.

RELATED: Trump Found Guilty By Jury On All 34 Counts In Hush Money Trial

In an earlier post, he called the closely-watched New York trial "rigged" and said his "civil rights have been totally violated."

"We will fight for our Constitution-this is long from over," Trump said.

At the heart of the charges are reimbursements paid to Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels in exchange for not going public with her claim about a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump.

Prosecutors say the reimbursements were falsely logged as “legal expenses” to hide the true nature of the transactions.

The charges Trump faces are punishable by up to four years in prison. He has denied all wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.

"From the beginning, this prosecution and trial have been driven by partisan politics. Despite today’s events, the ultimate verdict is up to the American people on November 5th when they will have a clear choice on the future of our country," Republican Gov. Brian Kemp wrote Thursday on his Facebook campaign account.

Meanwhile, some GOP leaders have seemingly expressed their support for Trump.

"President Trump is now a Political Prisoner. Radical Leftist Judges and Prosecutors are setting our country on Fire. It’s time to fight back," Lt. Gov. Burt Jones wrote Thursday on his Facebook campaign account.

Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler also expressed her thoughts on X, formerly Twitter.

"Corruption might win a battle - but it can’t win the war. The November election is our last chance to save America. Donald Trump is in the arena, fighting for us. We have to fight for him."

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, who represents Georgia's 1st congressional district, said on X that the New York trial was "baseless."

U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, who represents Georgia's fifth district and who is the Democratic Party of Georgia chair, proclaimed the law is not beneath anyone.

"No one is above the law, not even a failed former President," she wrote on X.

The trial in New York is one of multiple cases Trump has faced since the 2020 presidential election. He was indicted alongside 18 others in August 2023 after they were accused of unlawfully attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.

A First Amendment challenge brought forth by Trump was denied in early April, about eight months after the elite group of defendants were indicted on racketeering and election subversion charges and subsequently surrendered at the Fulton County Jail.

Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee, who has been presiding over the hearings in the case, said the defendants argued in the challenge that prosecution against them violates political speech and activity, freedom of association and the right to petition Congress protected under the First Amendment. They maintained the charges in the indictment were "over-broad," McAfee said in his 14-page ruling.

Ultimately, the challenge was struck down after McAfee found "vital constitutional protections do not reach the actions and statements alleged by the State. Nor do the statutes themselves facially violate the First Amendment," per court documents.

RELATED:

• Trump Charged With Violating RICO Act In Election Interference Case
• Hours After Trump's GA Surrender, Final Allies Turn Themselves In
• Lawyer For Trump Ally Claims To Have Leaked Witness Videos To Media
• Trump Subversion Case: GA Judge Quashes 6 Counts In Indictment: Report
• GA Election Probe: More Bonds Set For Trump Allies, Eastman Released
• Trump Subversion Case: GA Judge Quashes 6 Counts In Indictment: Report
• Rudy Giuliani Surrenders At Fulton Jail On RICO Charges
• Trump: GA Indictment Has 'No Basis'; Proposes 2026 Trial Date
• No Ruling In Trump Pretrial Hearing For GA Subversion Case: Reports
• Fulton DA Subpoenaed In New Trump Hearing: Report
• Lawyer In Trump Case To Appear Before Senate Amid GA DA Probe: Report

Trump was charged in the initial indictment on suspicion of violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, three counts of solicitation of violation of oath by public officer, conspiracy to commit impersonating a public officer, two counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit forgery, two counts of conspiracy to commit false statements and writings, conspiracy to commit filing false documents, filing false documents and false statements and writings.

He surrendered to the Fulton County Jail on Aug. 24 and was released on a $200,000 bond, using Lawrenceville's Foster Bail Bonds.

Trump has maintained his innocence throughout his indictment, contending the Georgia case against him has "no basis" and calling the case a "witch hunt." He has pleaded not guilty and waived a formal arraignment in the case.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.