Pritzker calls Trump 'fraud,' Miller calls trial 'sham'

[May 31, 2024]  By Greg Bishop | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois elected officials are reacting to the conviction of former President Donald Trump by a Manhattan jury.

Trump, 77, was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Under New York state law, falsifying business records in the first degree is a Class E felony with a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

The case centered around Trump's alleged sexual encounter with an adult film actress in 2006 and a $130,000 payment to her in 2016 to keep her quiet ahead of the 2016 election. Trump pleaded not guilty and denied the encounter happened.

Trump spoke after the verdict Thursday.

"This was a disgrace," the former president said. "This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge that was corrupt. They wouldn't give us a venue change. We were at 5% or 6% in this district, in this area."

He said the real verdict will be Nov. 5, the date of the General Election.

"Everyone knows what happened here. We didn't do a thing wrong," Trump said. "I'm a very innocent man. It's okay. I'm fighting for our country. I'm fighting for our constitution."

Trump said the case was brought by his likely opponent, incumbent President Joe Biden.

Illinois U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, a Democrat from Downers Grove, simply posted, "Guilty on all counts."

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, a southern Illinois Republican, posted to X, formerly Twitter, that she sat in the courtroom for a day.

"[And] it was a complete SHAM," Miller posted. "The Democrat' judge' instructed the jury to find President Trump guilty if only 4 out of 12 of them agreed on a crime. The anti-Trump witnesses admitted to lying under oath. The corrupt prosecutor was sent by the Biden DOJ!"

Gov. J.B. Pritzker also reacted.

President Donald Trump, attends the 2019 Army Navy Game in Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 14, 2019.
U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dana Clarke

"Justice has been served," Pritzker said in a statement. "After facing a jury of his peers, Donald Trump is exposed as the liar and fraud that he is. Trump evaded the law to deceive voters and today, the law caught up with him."

Pritzker continued, labeling Trump "a racist, a homophobe, a grifter, and a threat to this country."

"He can now add one more title to his list - a felon," Pritzker said. "But let me be clear, Donald Trump will never be 47."

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, posted a statement to X.

"Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon," Johnson said. "This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. "

Johnson said the "weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents."

He said Americans see the "lawfare" and "know it is wrong—and dangerous."

"President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict—and he WILL WIN!" Johnson said.

Johnson will be in Peoria on Saturday for the Tazewell County/Peoria County Lincoln Day Dinner.