Florida Elected Officials Scathe 'Rigged' Trial After Trump Found Guilty in 'Hush Money' Case

Elected officials around the state of Florida have shared their thoughts following the guilty verdict of former President Donald Trump (R) on all 34 charges in the hush money trial surrounding the adult film star Stormy Daniels. President Trump was accused of paying his lawyer, Michael Cohen, $130,000 to cover up the affair with Daniels. Trump denies this claim.

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) was one of many politicians to release a statement following the verdict.

“This is a sham trial and the clearest example we’ve ever seen of election interference. I am furious and no American is safe from Democrat political persecution. Joe Biden and the Democrat machine manufactured a legal case against Trump to win an election. I went to New York to stand trial with President Trump and the American voters will stand with him this November.”

Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) also responded, “This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA. We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country.”

Furthermore, Representative Daniel Webster (R-FL) shamed the New York legal system and its elected officials.

"Shame on DA Bragg, Judge Merchan and the entire NY prosecution team for going through with this witch-hunt! It should have been thrown out before it even started! Criminals are wreaking havoc in New York City streets, while instead of bringing them to justice and protecting citizens of New York, the DA is engaged in election interference. I intend to hold these individuals accountable for keeping President Trump in court for weeks, under a gag order and unable to speak to the American people across the country,” said Rep. Webster.

Representative Laurel Lee (R-FL), someone that Trump called to primary, remained steadfast in her support for the former President in this instance.

"Today's verdict was the result of a political witch hunt supported by the very people who are supposed to hold our judicial system to the highest standard. Politically weaponizing our judicial system is not only intolerable, but should be condemned. A jury verdict is only as good as the information that was given to the jurors, and as a former judge and prosecutor, I believe the judge in this case wrongfully denied the defendant's motions to provide important evidence the jurors never heard that would have exonerated President Trump. I believe in the judicial system and the appellate process. This fight is not over," said Rep. Lee.

However, Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) defended the justice system after the ruling.

"A former president being convicted is nothing to be celebrated, but it is an affirmation that nobody is above the law. This verdict was reached by a jury of Trump’s peers, by citizens of the American justice system, not by a judge or by a political opponent," said Rep. Moskowitz.

Trump himself called the trial “rigged” and presided over by a “conflicted” and “corrupt” judge.

“This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt. It’s a rigged trial, a disgrace. They wouldn’t give us a venue change, we were at 5%, 6% in this district, in this area. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here,” said Trump.

He continued by claiming his innocence.

“You have a Soros-backed DA. And the whole thing, we didn’t do anything wrong. I’m a very innocent man. And it’s okay. I’m fighting for our country. I’m fighting for our Constitution. Our country’s being rigged right now. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt a political opponent. And I think it’s just a disgrace, and we’ll keep fighting, we’ll fight to the end and win.

“We don’t have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. We’re a nation of decline, serious decline. Millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now from prisons and from mental institutions; terrorists, and they’re taking over our country. We have a country that is in big trouble, but this was a rigged decision right from day one with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case. Never. And we will fight for our Constitution. This is far from over.”

Judge Juan Merchan set the former President’s sentencing date for July 11.