WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump’s sentencing on the hush-money conviction is set for July 11 — four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
After Trump’s conviction on Thursday in New York, the Republican leadership released statements in support of the party’s presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the conviction was “lawfare,” “the weaponization” of the justice system, and “evidence” that Democrats will “stop at nothing” to crush opponents.
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“Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon,” Johnson said about Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen. “
Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Marco Rubio, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Sen. Rick Scott, and Rep. Matt Gaetz were among the Florida Republicans who quickly showed solidarity with Trump.
“In America, the rule of law should be applied in a dispassionate, even-handed manner, not become captive to the political agenda of some kangaroo court,” DeSantis wrote on X.
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Rubio wrote the verdict was a political show involving “an openly pro-Biden judge whose daughter makes money off the case, a jury from the most liberal county in America, absurd and ridiculous charges, and outrageous jury instructions.”
Scott released a statement saying the case was political persecution.
”Joe Biden and the Democrat machine manufactured a legal case against Trump to win an election,” Scott wrote. “I went to New York to stand with President Trump and the American voters will stand with him this November.”
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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise accused “extremist” and “radical” Democrats of attempting to interfere with the 2024 election. Gov. Ron DeSantis also released a statement of solidarity.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune and Senate Republican Conference Chair John Barrasso also agreed the case was politically motivated.
“More and more Americans are realizing that we cannot survive four more years of Joe Biden,” Thune wrote. “With President Trump in the White House and a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate, we can finally end the disastrous Biden-Schumer agenda that’s crushing American families and businesses.”
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House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik released a statement saying she hopes that a higher New York Court will “deliver justice” and overturn the verdict.
“We must work around the clock to ensure President Trump is victorious this November to save America from Biden’s failed Far Left Democrat agenda and the illegal weaponization of the justice system against the American people,” Stefanik wrote.
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