House Democrats applauded former President Trump’s conviction in the New York silence case on Thursday, hailing the guilty verdict as a victory for the justice system and proof that no one — including a former commander — boss – is above the law.
Some liberals appeared giddy immediately after the verdict was read, expressing a sense of excitement that a 12-person jury had found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, a verdict that could lead to the former president’s arrest.
“Hallelujah!!!” Representative Maxine Waters (D-California)wrote on X. “My predictions came true! I predicted three years ago in a speech with the Human Rights Campaign that Stormy Daniels would be the one to get Trump, my faith in the criminal justice system has been strengthened!”
“YES!” Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) echoed X, followed by a justice scale and an American flag emoji.
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), former chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, shared a GIF of television host Seth Myers saying “guilty as hell.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) paid tribute to the “lock her up” chant that used to flood Trump rallies, which was a call for Hillary Clinton to be put behind bars.
“How’s that chant he used to lead at rallies?” Garciawrote on X.
Thursday’s guilty verdict – which followed about 10 hours of jury deliberations and weeks of witness testimony – makes Trump the first former US president to be a convicted felon, marking his name once again in history books. The former president protested his conviction in brief comments shortly after the verdict was read, calling it “a shame” and stating “I am a very innocent man”.
The judge set a sentencing date for July 11, just days before Trump formally becomes the GOP nominee at the Republican National Convention.
While some House Democrats were encouraged by the immediate consequences of Trump’s conviction, others offered a more measured reaction, describing the verdict as a “dark moment.”
“This is a serious and dark time for our country, but one we have reached because the rule of law has remained strong,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.)wrote on X.
“Today, 12 Americans found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 charges, making it the first time in our nation’s history that a president has been found a criminal, a troubling moment,” Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.)echoed in X.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (DN.Y.), who led both impeachments against Trump, said, “Today, justice was served in Lower Manhattan.”
“Former President Trump’s relentless attempts to subvert the judicial system and undermine the rule of law were unable to overcome the overwhelming and damning evidence presented by District Attorney Alvin Bragg,” he said. “As I have said since the beginning of this trial, no one is above the law – not even a former president.”
The New York Democrat, however, added that he “couldn’t be prouder to be a New Yorker now that Manhattan has paved the way to convict him as a criminal.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
