BY THE VILLAGE SUN | Following Donald Trump’s conviction Thursday for falsifying business records in a series of nondisclosure payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, Downtown Democrats sounded off. “No one is above the law” and “unfit to serve” were among the top refrains.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case despite his predecessor, Cy Vance, and federal prosecutors notably passing on it, said the jury’s verdict represented “equal justice before the law.”
“Donald Trump is guilty of repeatedly and fraudulently falsifying business records in a scheme to conceal damaging information from American voters during the 2016 presidential election,” Bragg said. “Mr. Trump went to illegal lengths to lie repeatedly in order to protect himself and his campaign. In Manhattan, we follow the facts without fear or favor and have a solemn responsibility to ensure equal justice under the law regardless of the background, wealth or power of the accused.”
The 34 charges on which Trump was found guilty correspond to nearly three dozen individual check stubs, payment invoices and ledger entries from a series of payments to Daniels, totaling $130,000, to keep her quiet about their one-night fling in 2006. The payments were made by former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who, in turn, was reimbursed with checks marked for alleged legal services.
Falsifying business records is generally just a misdemeanor, but Bragg elevated it to an attempt to influence the outcome of the federal election.
The Republican presidential frontrunner is expected to appeal the verdict in the case, which is considered to be the least serious of the several he faces, including one for fomenting the disgraceful Jan. 6 Capitol Riot to overturn the 2020 election results.
For his part, Mayor Adams said the New York Police Department is ready to deal with any potential “lawlessness” in response to the decision.
“Today, a jury of 12 New Yorkers registered their verdict,” he said. “Our criminal justice process must be respected. As we await the next steps, New Yorkers should rest assured that the N.Y.P.D. stands ready to respond to any and all circumstances, including large-scale protests. While peaceful protests and assembly will always be protected, we will not be a city of any form of lawlessness.”
Brad Hoylman-Sigal, chairperson of the state Senate Judiciary Committee, went further, warning that the “safety and security” of all involved in the case must be safeguarded.
“The safety and security of the judge, court personnel and jury are of the utmost importance in the coming days and weeks,” Hoylman-Sigal stressed. “Their protection, and this ruling, will demonstrate to the nation, and to the world, that we are indeed a nation governed by the rule of law.
“No single individual is above the law,” he declared.
Congressmember Dan Goldman, the House Democrats’ lead counsel in the first Trump impeachment inquiry, tweeted on X, “Our tried and true democratic justice system is rooted in the Constitution and…an impartial jury of 12 citizens…determining guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The same rules apply to Donald Trump. No one is above the law.”
Congressmember Jerry Nadler, who, as House Judiciary Committee chairperson, presided over the first Trump impeachment, charged that the reality TV star-turned-politician’s conviction in the tawdry payoff scheme proves he cannot be elected again.
“Former President Trump’s relentless attempts to subvert the justice system and undermine the rule of law were unable to overcome the overwhelming, damning evidence presented by District Attorney Alvin Bragg,” Nadler said. “As I have said from the beginning of this trial, no one is above the law — not even a former president.
“Today’s conviction on all 34 counts proves what we have known to be true all along — Donald Trump is unfit to serve in any elected office, let alone president of the United States.”
Similarly, outspoken Assemblymember Tony Simone said, “This result proves what America has known for years: that Donald Trump is a con man, a criminal and now a convicted felon who is unfit to serve in any office, let alone as president of the United States. I look forward to justice being served in the myriad of cases that have been brought forward against the former president.”
Woohoo! The first of many victories! Go down, Donnie! It’ll be four cases No Trump.