In a state Donald Trump has twice won by more than 40 points, dominant political reaction lashed out at the former president’s conviction on 34 felony charges — and also led immediately to fundraising pleas.
West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Matt Herridge responded in a social media video by calling the conviction the result of a show trial. Herridge didn’t object to specific evidence or rulings, but did characterize the trial as highly politicized. He then urged people to donate.
“While American people are seeing right through this, we all have to stand up and we all have to speak out,” Herridge said.
“I just rushed a contribution to President Trump’s campaign, and I hope we turn this travesty into a massive fundraising week for the Trump campaign. Republicans won’t be deterred. Donald Trump will win in the end, and West Virginia and the American people are ready now more than ever to send Donald Trump back to the White House.”
The trial in Manhattan reached its conclusion Thursday afternoon with the jury convicting Trump on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. The convictions were considered felonies because the jury concluded that Trump pushed for the records to be falsified to try to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election by keeping a tryst with adult film actress Stormy Daniels out of public scrutiny. The legal theory was that one criminal act was done to achieve another.
Trump’s sentencing is set for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention. The 2024 general election is already in full gear with Trump headed for a rematch against incumbent President Joe Biden, a Democrat.
He has twice won West Virginia by wide margins.
In 2016, Trump got 68.5 percent of the general election vote in West Virginia, to Democrat Hillary Clinton’s 26.4 percent.
In 2020, Trump got 68.6 percent of West Virginia’s general election vote, to Biden’s 29.7 percent.
In West Virginia statewide races, Trump has endorsed Gov. Jim Justice in his race for U.S. Senate and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey in his run to take over as governor.
Campaigns for Justice and Morrisey each blasted the jury verdict on Thursday evening while also making fundraising appeals.
“The guilty verdict against President Trump is a deeply troubling and politicized decision that undermines the principles of justice. President Trump has always put America First and fought for the values that make our nation great. I will always stand with Donald J. Trump! Chip in to fight back today,” Justice’s campaign posted on social media, pointing toward a link to do so.
Shortly after the verdict was announced, Morrisey posted “Donald Trump is found guilty. How terrible. This whole process was rigged against him from the beginning. Trump needs our help now more than ever” and then linked to the same fundraising site for Republicans.
The GOP fundraising site, WinRed, briefly crashed from all the nationwide activity. The site features Trump’s mugshot from another criminal case in Georgia and says “I’m a political prisoner.”
Morrisey also recorded a video on social media calling the verdict “devastating news” and “a miscarriage of justice.” Morrisey contended the case never should have gone to trial, characterizing it as a political prosecution.
“Things that are normally considered a misdemeanor are being converted to felonies because you’re trying to go after the GOP nominee for president. That shouldn’t happen in America,” he said.
He concluded by saying, “My name is Patrick Morrisey. I’m going to keep working to elect President Trump, and I think the ultimate day for all of us will be election day for all of us will be election day where we get to have the right thing happen. I look forward to talking with you in the days and weeks ahead.”