SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Guilty on all 34 felony convictions- that’s the verdict handed down to former president Donald Trump Thursday his criminal hush money trial. While the charges are punishable by up to four years in prison, Trump denies any wrongdoing and plans to appeal.
Meanwhile, many people nationwide are jumping to his defense.
Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds said he thinks the verdict will help Trump in his bid for a return to the White House.
“I think what we’re going to have right now, I think this is basically assured his candidacy. And now it’s a matter of how do they go about in the appeals process, either reversing this process or explaining to the people how this could ever happen, when federal prosecutors and basically decline to prosecute for a lot of the same things,” Rounds said.
Rounds also said he’s not surprised by the verdict, and that rather than beating Trump at the ballot box, people are going to try and beat him in a court of law.
South Dakota leaders react to Trump verdict
“I think it’s going to be extremely difficult to bring America back together again and to not believe that this wasn’t an attempt to influence the election outcome this year. This is going to be hard to bring people back together again,” Rounds said.
He adds whether or not this will actually limit Trump’s ability to campaign is yet to be determined.
Senator Thune also shared his reaction on X saying the case was “politically motivated from the beginning.” Governor Kristi Noem took to X stating in part that President Trump did nothing wrong and will be vindicated soon.
