ST. LOUIS — Reactions to Thursday’s historic verdict varied along political divides in the St. Louis area.
“It’s ridiculous,” said a supporter of Donald Trump in Overland. “The man did nothing wrong.”
In the Delmar Loop, St. Louis County resident Jerrick Powell said, “You’re going to be caught if you’re doing anything wrong, and he got caught.”
“I was kind of stunned, actually,” said Hazelwood resident Rick Robertson. “I thought it would have been totally different; you know, I’m all for Trump.”
“I’m not going to lie, I was kind of excited,” said St. Louis resident Dominique Donegan.
Prominent criminal defense attorney Joel Schwartz was not surprised by the verdict. He said, “Jurors take their job seriously.”
Attorneys for the former president are likely to appeal the guilty verdicts.
“My guess is they will attempt to take it right up to the Supreme Court if they are able to,” said Schwartz.
While he does not expect a sentence that would include jail time, Schwartz said it’s hard to imagine enforcing probation or sentencing a candidate running for president to house arrest.
“I don’t think the framers ever envisioned a convicted felon running for the presidency of the United States,” he said.
