As jury selection begins in Donald Trump’s criminal trial involving money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, the former president’s most ardent supporters have already made a decision in the case before a lawsuit is filed. single piece of evidence.
Trump is the first former president in US history to face a criminal trial.
He is charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal the payment of $130,000 to Daniels.
Trump has called the trial an “assault on America” ​​and “political persecution,” and his supporters echo what he says.
“That’s a witch hunt, a total witch hunt,” said Stacey Hawthorne, 57, who waited in line for hours to see Trump speak Saturday at a rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, his last political event before before the trial began.
“I think it’s crazy that the Democrats can get away with this and just come after him,” said his friend Stephanie Colofa, 50.
A Trump supporter wearing a hoodie with the former president’s mugshot at his rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
Trump supporters lined up to await his arrival at a fundraiser on April 13, 2024.
Trump has baselessly accused President Biden of being behind the trial. It was a common topic of conversation among his followers.
Prosecutors allege that the former president falsified business records to cover up repaying Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election to keep her quiet about a sexual encounter that occurred in 2006.
Trump supporters were more focused on the hush money itself than on falsifying business records, and that didn’t bother them.
“I’m sure there isn’t a politician alive who hasn’t paid money to get someone to shut their mouth for something they didn’t want,” said Matthew Onuschak, 44.
“I don’t care whether or not Donald Trump paid money to silence someone. I like his policies,” he added.
‘I don’t care at all. That’s something from a long time ago,” said Janice Monroe, 69, of Germansville, Pennsylvania.
If convicted, the maximum prison sentence for each charge is four years, but defendants typically receive a much shorter sentence. The hush money trial is the first of four criminal cases facing the former president that could go to trial this year.
But Trump supporters are not worried about their candidate being criminally convicted or facing prison time.
“I think it’s just an obstacle and they’re frivolous cases and I think that strengthens their foundation even more,” said Michael Mann, 61. “I don’t think he’s going to be convicted.”
“I think eventually, after all the appeals, President Trump will be found not guilty after all,” said Courtney Bracken, 46.
Trump supporters waiting to participate in his rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. It was the former president’s last rally before the secret money trial.
Trump supporters watching him speak at his rally in Schnecksville. During the rally, Trump harshly criticized the trial, the judge and the prosecutor in the secret money case.
While Trump’s most loyal supporters are not concerned that their candidate is behind bars, most registered voters do view the allegations as serious.
The New York Times/Siena poll found that 58 percent believe hush money charges of falsifying business records are very or somewhat serious.
The court of public opinion is divided along partisan lines. 66 percent of Republicans said the charges are not too serious or not at all serious.
Registered voters are also divided on whether they believe Trump is guilty in the case. 46 percent said he should be found guilty before trial, while 36 percent said he should not. Only 18 percent said they don’t know.
81 percent of Democrats and 40 percent of independents said he should be found guilty. 71 percent of Republicans and 35 percent of independents said it shouldn’t.
Republican lawmakers and party leaders see the GOP’s support for Trump as a signal to support the former president despite the criminal charges.
On Sunday, New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, once a Trump critic, said he would support Trump even if he were found guilty in the New York case.
Sununu said he doesn’t think any American would be comfortable with someone convicted of crimes as president. But he also said: ‘Right now it’s an election. It’s about politics.’