Many of Iowa’s elected officials released statements yesterday (Thursday) following guilty verdicts for former President Donald Trump from a New York jury on 34 felony counts for allegedly falsifying business records during his 2016 presidential campaign. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says, “America saw this trial for what it was, a sham. For years, Democrats like Alvin Bragg have been trying to put President Trump in jail with complete disregard for our democracy and the will of the American people. The only verdict that matters is the one at the ballot box in November where the American people will elect President Trump again.” Other Iowa Republicans echoed Reynolds’ sentiment, with Rep. Randy Feenstra, Sen. Joni Ernst, and Sen. Chuck Grassley claiming the case was the political weaponization of the judicial system. Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat to hold statewide elected office, says, “In 7 years as an Assistant Attorney General, I found juries in both liberal and conservative counties took the work seriously and tried to do right. Jurors deserve our thanks and respect.” This is the first time in US history that a former president has been convicted of felony charges. It is unclear how the verdict will influence the 2024 presidential election, which is set for Nov. 5.
