LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A jury on Thursday convicted former president Donald Trump of 34 counts in his highly publicized "hush money" trial that spanned multiple weeks.
Specifically, the jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. As a result of the jury's verdict, Trump has became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes
Trump spoke out against the verdict on Thursday, calling the decision a "disgrace" and emphasized that he's an "innocent man."
"The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people," Trump said after being found guilty. "We didn't do a thing wrong. I'm a very innocent man."
That sentiment was shared by Arkansas politicians like Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sen. Tom Cotton shared their disapproval for Thursday's ruling, with the governor even calling the jury's decision "politically motivated."
"This is a politically-motivated sham trial," Gov. Sanders said on X. "The American people decide our elections. Donald Trump will be our next president," she continued.
Sen. Cotton also took to X following the verdict, calling the hush trial "a travesty of justice."
"This verdict, like the case itself, is a travesty of justice," Sen. Cotton said. "The nakedly partisan judge biased the trial at every turn, from allowing an unconstitutional indictment in the first place to excluding key evidence to rigging the jury instructions. The American people will see right through Joe Biden and the Democrats’ weaponization of the legal system."
Rep. French Hill called Trump's guilty verdict a "political gotcha game" and criticized the judicial process.
"Most Americans saw this trial of former President Donald Trump for what it was—a political gotcha game and misuse of the judicial process," Hill said. "Today's verdict sets a dangerous precedent and harms the faith that Americans have in our justice system"
Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, who has been critical of Trump in the past, also shared his thoughts on Thursday's verdict — he applauded the decision from the jury and said the group should be respected.
"It is not easy to see a former President and the presumptive GOP nominee convicted of felony crimes; but the jury verdict should be respected. An appeal is in order but let’s not diminish the significance of this verdict," Hutchinson said.
Trump, who is eyeing at second term as U.S. President, is now faced with the potential of jail time as the 2024 presidential election steadily approaches.
The falsifying business records charges carry up to four years behind bars, though prosecutors have not said whether they intend to seek imprisonment. It's also unclear whether Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the trial, would impose that punishment even if asked
Judge Merchan has set Trump's sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.