LOCAL LEADERS REACT TO TRUMP'S 34 CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS

Representative Sara Jacobs says “justice is served” by jurors’ decision. Her opponent, Mayor Bill Wells, leads “save our democracy” rally against verdict.

East County News Service

June 5, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Local officials are speaking on after a New York state jury convicted former president Donald Trump of 34 felony crimes.  The jurors found that Trump falsified business records to pay hush money to a porn star, in order to prevent voters from learning of his alleged affair.

Reactions split down party lines among local representatives, with Republicans criticizing the justice systema and Democrats praising jurors’ actions.

Congressman Juan Vargas, a Democrat, stated, “"No one is above the law. Not even former president Donald Trump. Today, a jury unanimously concluded that he broke the law for his own personal gain. This verdict is another step towards accountability and justice."

In El Cajon, Republican Mayor Bill Wells, also a candidate for Congress, held what he called a “Save Our Democracy” rally at which he denounced the verdicts. “Americans know that a dark time has fallen over the nation and that none of us are safe. We are all potential felons if it is convenient for the people in power,” Wells told the crowd that he estimated at hundreds, but that other observers estimated at several dozen.  Councilmembers Phil Ortiz and Steve Goble also spoke at the rally.

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, whom Wells is running against, concluded, “Justice is served.”

 Ironically, while Mayor Wells sees a threat to democracy in Trump’s conviction, others view the convictions as affirmations that our system of justice is working, protecting our democracy from a man who sought to win the presidency under false pretenses, covering up allegations by porn star Stormy Daniels of actions that many voters would consider immoral.  Others say the if there is any subversion of democracy, it’s been by Trump-appointed judges in Florida and on the Supreme Court who have delayed two federal trials, that now likely won’t take place until after the election, if ever.

Congressman Mike Levin, a Democrat, says of the New York verdicts, “The jury’s decision reaffirmed that no one is above the law, not even a former President. Now is the time to close the door on this sordid chapter and move forward to address the challenges we all face in creating a more just and equitable nation.”

Congressman Darrell Issa, a Republican, called the trial and verdicts “a disgrace.”  He claimed without evidence, “Democrats weaponize the law and manipulate the courts to go after Republicans and conservatives. Biden won the last election in his basement.  I’ll vote for Trump even if he’s in a jail cell.”

Fact check: Trump was convicted in state court; the federal government has no jurisdiction over New York’s actions. While there are federal charges pending against Trump, those were filed by a special prosecutor separate from the Justice Dept.  Nor has Biden sought to interfere with actions of the Justice Dept., which is currently prosecuting Biden’s son, Hunter, over an allegedly illegal gun purchase.

Others have claimed jurors were biased, even though all 12 jurors plus 23 grand jurors found evidence that felonies were committed, including jurors who described themselves as Trump supporters and jurors who said their news sources include conservative sources such as Fox News and Trump’s Truth Social media outlet.

Congressman Scott Peters,  the fourth Democrat among San Diego’s five-member Congressional delegation, concluded, "This was a fair process and our legal system worked as intended. A jury of Mr. Trump's peers listened to the evidence and found him guilty on all charges. That's how the justice system is supposed to work. We should thank jurors for their service and the judge for his patience."

Carol Lam, former U.S. Attorney for California’s Southern District in San Diego, offered this legal perspective,NBC 7 reports. “This is a state conviction for a crime, just like hundreds of thousands of state criminal convictions have been obtained throughout history. That's what's remarkable about this, that a man who has held the position of president and may do so again, has gone through the same process of criminal prosecution that thousands and thousands of people go through every year and has been held accountable after a criminal trial by a jury of his peers."

Sentencing for the former president is slated for July 11, three days before the Republican National Convention at which he expected to be formally nominated as the party’s candidate for president in the November election.