Local officials, residents react to Trump verdict

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – We have been getting reaction on Thursday afternoon’s verdict in New York that found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts in a hush money trial.

Republican vastly believe the trial was rigged against Trump.

The Democrats, however, believe it was a fair trial that should stop him from running for office again.

Donald Trump (MGN)

Locals wonder what kind of impact this will have on the 2024 election, but they hope people start paying attention.

Though all groups seem to disagree, they all agree that the true results will come from the election.

See reaction from republicans, democrats and locals:

Republican Reaction:

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee:

“Weaponizing the law to target your political opposition is what you’d expect in places like Russia, China and North Korea – but not America. Donald Trump did nothing wrong. Joe Biden and the Democrats have abused our justice system. The real verdict will be made on November 5.”

Sen. Bill Hagerty, Tennessee:

“Americans deserve a President whose idea of justice is safer communities and secure borders, not weaponizing the justice system against the opposing candidate to distract them from his failed record. Dark day for American democracy.”

Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee,

“A politicized justice system does nothing to serve the American people. Voters in Tennessee and across the country recognize this verdict for what it is — a political attack — and they’ll bring a change on Election Day in November.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia District 14:

“Republicans have done NOTHING to stop the Democrats from destroying our justice system and our freedoms. Many Republicans would just quote the constitution as they are marched to the firing squad. When good men do nothing, evil prevails… My own party does not realize this is a referendum on the Republican Party just as it is on the Democrat Party. Speaker Johnson funded the entire Biden agenda, I voted no and then tried to vacate him. Our committees have brought zero accountability, and it’s outrageous. People are OVER IT. We aren’t powerless, we CONTROL THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES!!! We fund the government or NOT. The Republican Party needs to grow a spine!”

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee District 3:

“I felt yesterday was a sad day for America. It was a sad day for the American justice system. This was New York’s justice system. As you all know I am close personal friends with President Trump. I support him and will continue to support him. It’s really a sad day for America. I believe in the appellate process. Ultimately, if there’s one thing the Biden and Trump teams can agree on, this issue will be settled by the American people.”

Mark Harrison, President of Hamilton County Republican Party:

“I will say that it is too early to predict what all will happen in the coming weeks, but an appeal is likely as well as an overturn of today’s decision. I expect the decision to be overturned based on the poor instructions to the jury which lead to a conviction without a specific act being identified as unlawful (referencing the “à la carte” options the jury was given to chose from).”

John Wahl, Chair of the Alabama Republican Party:

“The Alabama Republican Party fully stands behind Donald Trump. The leftist-inspired court case against him is clearly politically motivated. The facts surrounding this entire situation date back to 2016. These Democrat elected officials had eight years to bring charges but chose to act only when Donald Trump started leading Joe Biden in the polls. The justice system should never be used as a political weapon, and we are deeply disappointed by what we have seen throughout this case. It is crucial to recognize that one of the true enemies of democracy is the misuse of the justice system to target political opponents. With the conviction of Donald J. Trump, it is evident that our country is heading in a very dangerous direction. This is not how a republic or a democracy should be run. The conviction of a former president, especially one who is a current candidate for the presidency, sets a troubling precedent. Throughout American history, our Republic has been anchored by principles of fairness, impartiality, and the rule of law. These principles are now at risk when legal actions appear motivated by political agendas rather than genuine legal infractions. Targeting a former president through legal means not only undermines the integrity of our judicial system but also threatens the very foundations of our democratic system. The people of America should decide who our next president is, not Democrat elected officials or politically motivated prosecutions. This fundamental principle is at the heart of our democratic process. Our nation must remain vigilant in protecting the integrity of our elections and ensuring that the legal system is used to uphold justice, not as a tool for political gain.”

Democratic Reaction:

Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Rachel Campbell:

“Once again the judicial system holds up. We know that our judicial system is the best in the world. He was convicted by a jury of his peers. It was not rigged. It was a fair and judicious trial, and I trust the jurors made the right decision and they did what was best. He’s (Trump) refused to accept that he lost the 2020 election. He’s refused to accept that he lost in court here.  This was not a rigged election. This was not a rigged trial. Do we really want to elect a former president who is now a convicted felon? What would that say about us as a country if we did that?”

Jack Allen, Democratic Congressional candidate for Tennessee District 3:

“I spent this afternoon following President Trump’s trial in New York. While this is a very difficult situation, I’m encouraged that the right to a fair trial applies to ALL Americans, even in a circumstance as unprecedented as this one.”

Sen. Raphael Warnock, Georgia:

“No one is above the law—including Donald Trump.”

Georgia Democratic Party Chair Niekma Williams:

“Nobody is above the law and today’s verdict, while a long time coming, does not change our mission in 2024 to re-elect President Biden to continue his work investing in Georgia, creating jobs and producing more opportunities for everyone. Convicted felon, or not, Donald Trump is the Republican nominee for president, and Georgians cannot afford a second term of our freedoms being ripped away by an unhinged and even more dangerous candidate.”

Resident Reaction:

Keith Webb, Chattanooga Resident:

“Well, I’m not really surprised because it was like a very big issue leading up to it so if he wasn’t convicted on at least half of the counts, it would probably be a whole issue in itself… I mean, it’s not really a big issue I’d probably say, if it does sway you, it sways you at the same time I mean, I can’t really be surprised.”

Andy Johns, Chattanooga Resident:

“You’re going to remember where you were when it happened, because you know it’s just one of those events… When a jury of his peers convicts him, that’s not a witch hunt or anything like that, that’s just normal Americans listening to the evidence and finding him guilty, and I hope that people are paying attention and remember that in November.”