After a New York jury convicted former President Donald Trump on 34 felony counts on Thursday, Tennessee’s Republican lawmakers wasted no time responding.
The historic verdict — the first time a former president has been convicted of a felony — drew outrage.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn posted from her campaign account on X, formerly Twitter, a two word message: “WITCH HUNT.” In a statement posted on the platform — one of seven tweets within an hour — she elaborated, writing “If they can do this to a former President who will be the 2024 Republican nominee, they can do it to anyone. This is a sad day for the American justice system and the American people — this is what you’d expect in places like Russia, China and North Korea, but not America.”
In a statement, 1st Congressional District Rep. Diana Harshbarger, who traveled to New York to support Trump during his trial, called Thursday “a heartbreaking day for our beloved nation.”
“The conviction of President Trump is an absolute travesty and a stain on our justice system. This verdict is not just an attack on President Trump; it is an attack on every American who believes in fairness and justice,” Harshbarger said, predicting “President Trump will be back stronger than ever.”
Memphis Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen, the sole Democrat in Tennessee’s federal delegation, tweeted the word “YES!” accompanied by emojis of the scales of justice and and American flag. In a second tweet, he wrote, “The rule of law, which the United States is founded upon, shone bright today. In America, no one is above the law.”
State lawmakers also weighed in.
“A politicized justice system does nothing to serve the American people,” wrote Gov. Bill Lee on X. “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.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally called the verdict a “truly horrible precedent.”
“No matter what you think of President Trump, this is a sad day for our nation. A politically motivated prosecution has yielded a politically desired result,” wrote McNally.
Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston, who is running against 5th District Rep. Andy Ogles in the Aug. 1 Republican primary, said in a statement, “The continued weaponization of the judicial system should concern every American. Activist prosecutors continue to come after President Trump to score political points, but the American people see this for what it is. I believe the backlash will lead to a huge red wave in November.”
Trump was charged by New York prosecutors with falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election in exchange for her silence about their affair.
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