KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Elected officials across Kansas and Missouri took to social media Thursday afternoon to offer their thoughts after a New York jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony counts.
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R - Missouri) offered several posts on X, calling Trump’s trial a “total sham.”
“This ‘trial’ has been from the beginning to end a complete and total sham, a mockery of the criminal justice system, and one of the most dangerous abuses of our political process in American history,” Hawley said in one of four posts in the immediate aftermath of Trump’s conviction.
This is America under Democrat rule: prosecuting political opponents whether it’s pro-life Americans or a former President
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) May 30, 2024
Hawley’s colleague, U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R - Missouri) struck a similar tone.
“What happened in New York is a travesty for the rule of law and our Constitution,” Schmitt said.
Schmitt said he believes Trump “will be vindicated on appeal and the American people will reject this unprecedented law fare in November.”
On the other side of the state line, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R - Kansas) predicted that “Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States.”
“The political persecution of Donald Trump is the most egregious miscarriage of justice in our nation’s history,” Marshall said.
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D - Kansas City) said Thursday's verdict is a chance to reflect on the moment.
"I hope that my fellow Americans will take this moment to reflect deeply on the road we walked to reach this point and which direction we want to take moving forward," Cleaver said in a statement.
KSHB 41 News also contacted Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids' office for comment.
“Rep. Davids has always said that no one is above the law and she trusts the justice system to work as it should,” Davids' office shared in a statement.
Missouri Rep. Mark Alford released a lengthy statement on social media expressing support for Trump.
"I STAND WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP," Alford said in part in the post. "President Trump was wrongfully prosecuted and wrongfully convicted by a deeply corrupt and compromised District Attorney Bragg and Judge Merchan. I’m confident these convictions WILL be overturned on appeal."
Similarly, Missouri Rep. Sam Graves also showed support for Trump, calling the conviction a "sham political persecution."
"This sham political persecution of President Trump is sure to be overturned on appeal," Graves said in the statement. "It's shameful that the justice system has been weaponized. I stand with President Trump."
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