Donald Trump has been found guilty by the jury in the hush money trial. This is how Joe Biden and numerous Hollywood stars react.
A black day for Donald Trump (77): The former US president has been found guilty by twelve jurors on all 34 counts in the trial for concealing hush money payments to former porn actress Stormy Daniels (45). The jury announced this on Thursday (May 30) in New York. This is the first time in US history that a former president has been convicted of a crime. Public reactions were not long in coming.
According to “ABC”, Stormy Daniels (45) herself said through her lawyers: “Great relief that this case is now over. No one is above the law and the selfless hard time of every single jury member should be respected and valued.”
The former porn actress accused Trump of paying her $130,000 before the election via his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen so that she would not spill the beans about an alleged affair. Such a payment is not illegal in itself, but manipulating the documents to conceal it is.
Consequences for the Trump vs. Biden election campaign?
Trump himself declared after the jury's decision that he was a “very innocent man” and called the verdict a “disgrace”. It remains to be seen to what extent the verdict will affect the election campaign between Trump and the current US President Joe Biden (81). Biden has not benefited much from the trial headlines surrounding Trump so far.
Biden promptly took advantage of the jury’s guilty verdict, to X to promote his election campaign with Vice President Kamala Harris (59): “There is only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box,” said the Democrat on X. “Donate to our campaign today.”
The full sentence will be announced by the court on July 11. Trump faces a fine and a prison sentence of several years, which could be suspended. Trump can appeal the verdict and, despite the final conviction, run in the presidential election on November 5.
And what does Hollywood say?
Numerous Hollywood stars also made statements on social media. “Star Wars” star Mark Hamill (72), for example, shared a graphicin which the word “guilty” can be read several times in red letters.
Barbra Streisand (82) posted on X: “Convicted criminal Donald Trump blames the judge, the jury and New York for finding him guilty on 34 counts.” Trump will never take responsibility for “his crimes.” “Americans must not allow this criminal to ever come near the White House again.”
“A convicted criminal”
Author Stephen King (76) Streisand agreed: “The Republican presidential candidate is a convicted felon.” “Only Murders in the Building” star Steve Martin (78) wrote via X: “Stormy Trumps Donald!!!” Members of the Republican Party should seriously consider whether they want to vote for a “convicted felon,” Martin continued.
Actor Billy Baldwin (61) was via X: “Guilty on all counts.” He also warns: “Election manipulation, espionage and incitement to insurrection are imminent.”