A New York jury found former President, and presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, guilty of 34 counts of felony falsification of business records on Thursday.
The charges stem from a $130,000 "hush money” payment made by former Trump attorney Michael Cohen to Stephanie Clifford, an adult film actress who performs under the name Stormy Daniels, for staying silent prior to the 2016 election about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. When Trump later reimbursed Cohen, those payments were recorded as legal fees.
Trump’s sentencing has been set for July 11, 2024, just four days before the Republican National Convention begins. The conviction, and even potential imprisonment, will not prevent Trump from seeking the presidency.
Politicians across the country promptly shared their reactions to Trump becoming the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of felony crimes. In Mississippi, the attitudes towards Trump’s conviction are mostly split along party lines.
In a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves claimed, without evidence, that the trial was orchestrated by President Joe Biden to harm Trump's presidential campaign.
"The lawless conviction of President Donald Trump only reflects the desperation of President Biden and the corrupt methods he will use to steal this election. I am confident that justice will prevail, and the people of America will not reward the leftwing wannabe dictators abusing our justice system in November," Reeves said. "Make America Great Again!
Trump was found guilty in a unanimous decision made by a jury made up of a dozen of his peers. There is also no evidence that President Biden influenced any of the decisions made by Alvin L. Bragg, the prosecutor who brought the case.
Most of Mississippi's other statewide officials also expressed their support for Trump following the conviction.