Rep. Dusty Johnson said he expects the felony convictions against former president Donald Trump will get overturned.
Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts in New York. The charges are related to falsifying business documents in a hush money case.
On Friday morning during a business tour in Rapid City, the Republican congressman said he’s uncomfortable with the Manhattan prosecutor. Johnson said he is unaware of anyone who has been charged on similar grounds.
“Now, obviously the facts matter: the jury knows the evidence far better than I do, but there’s a reason we have an appeals process. A number of legal experts that I trust have indicated they think there is some reversable error in this proceeding. We have to let the process work," Johnson said. "One of the strengths of the American system is that we do have an appeals process. I expect that these convictions are going to be overturned.”
Trump is the presumed GOP presidential nominee.
Other top South Dakota Republicans are critical of the convictions.
On social media Thursday evening, Sen. John Thune said the verdict does nothing to absolve the partisan nature of the prosecution.
"Regardless of outcome, more and more Americans are realizing that we cannot survive four more years of Joe Biden. With President Trump in the White House and a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate, we can finally end the disastrous Biden-Schumer agenda that's crushing American families and businesses."
Sen. Mike Rounds said the verdict will help Trump in his bid for a return to the White House.
“This verdict probably helps former President Trump grow his support politically. The left is so disconnected from the pulse of America. They’ve underestimated the disgust with Washington, D.C. and the bureaucracy that is crushing families and the economy. Now, they’ve opened a Pandora’s box," Rounds said in a statement. "A good portion of the country believes the only way to save our country is to swing back just as hard, with the same weaponization of the legal system and bureaucracy. As Americans, we are better than this. I pray we keep our wits and do it at the ballot box. Unfortunately, I fear this will only divide our country even further.”
Gov. Kristi Noem called the result a "wrongful conviction" by a "stacked jury."
