WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts in the criminal case brought against him by the state of New York for falsifying business records. According to prosecutors, Trump tried to cover up hush money payments made to ex-adult entertainer Stormy Daniels.
They argued that Trump knew if this news were to come out during his presidential campaign it would torpedo his chances of being elected. Evidence showed Trump paid his former lawyer Michael Cohen $130,000 to give to Daniels in exchange for her silence regarding the pairs 2006 sexual encounter.
Minutes after a jury found him guilty, Trump spoke out calling himself a "very innocent man."
"The real verdict is going to be on Nov. 5 by the people." Trump said in the hallway outside the New York courtroom.
Public officials across the DMV are reacting to the news. Here's what people are saying about the guilty verdict, starting first and foremost with the former president himself:
Former President Donald Trump's official statement:
"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. It's a rigged trial, a disgrace. They wouldn't give us a venue change. We were at 5% or 6% in this district, in this area. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial.
"The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people. And they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here. You have a Soros-backed DA, and the whole thing, we didn't do a thing wrong.
"I'm a very innocent man, and it's okay, I'm fighting for our country. I'm fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now.
"This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent. And I think it's just a disgrace. And we'll keep fighting. We'll fight till the end, and we'll win because our country has gone to hell.
"We don't have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. We're a nation in decline, serious decline, millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now from prisons and from mental institutions, terrorists, and they're taking over our country. We have a country that's in big trouble.
"But this was a rigged decision right from Day One. With a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case. Never. And we will fight for our Constitution. This is long from over. Thank you very much."
The Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign released a statement after the verdict:
“In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law.
“Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But today’s 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.
“The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator ‘on day one’ and calling for our Constitution to be ‘terminated’ so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans’ freedoms and fomenting political violence – and the American people will reject it this November.”
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-Virginia) tweeted:
"The American people see this for what it is: a politically motivated prosecution orchestrated by those who want to “get” President Trump. On November 5th, Americans will render their verdict on Joe Biden’s failed leadership based on the issues that affect them everyday."
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland):
"For the first time in American history, a former President has been convicted of a felony. No one is above the law, not even Donald Trump. An impartial jury of citizens delivered a verdict in this criminal case by applying the facts to the law, using our time-honored adversarial legal process in the courtroom before an independent judge. Government officials take an oath to preserve and protect the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. Let each one of us remember this sacred oath is not to pledge our fealty to one person or one political party, but to pledge our allegiance to the United States of America and the rule of law. It is inappropriate and dangerous for elected officials to attack our judicial system as a whole because they disagree with the outcome of Donald Trump’s criminal trial.”
Former Gov. Larry Hogan (R-Maryland) issued a statement prior to the verdict:
"Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders—regardless of party—must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law."
Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D-Maryland) tweeted:
"Today, the leader of the Republican Party was found guilty on all 34 counts. As a former Prosecutor, I have the utmost respect for our justice system and the rule of law. The jury has spoken. Nobody is above the law."
This story will be updated as more officials release statements.