GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Shockwaves were sent across the nation after former president Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts by a New York jury Thursday, becoming the first U.S. president in history to be convicted of a crime.
Each count was that of falsifying business records in the first degree, a charge that carries a potential penalty of up to four years in prison under New York law.
Back in Michigan, where the race for the presidency is hotter than ever, leaders are responding.
The head of the state's GOP called the case a sham.
"Now, you know, we've gone to this extreme of using the courts to try to influence the try to influence an election," Michigan GOP Chair Pete Hoekstra said. "Very, very disappointing."
State Democrats, however, are saying the law prevailed.
"This is how the American justice system is designed to work; no one is above the law," Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said. "We saw 12 regular American citizens do the work of bringing justice and they did it."
But one area these leaders seem to agree is that Thursday's events are unlikely to change their plans for convincing voters.
"We're going to continue going after the failed policies of the Biden administration, what's happening with inflation, what is happening, you know, with their push for electric vehicles - which will basically destroy the auto industry that has kept Michigan afloat and as an industrial leader, you know, for 100 years - the crisis on the border," Hoekstra said.
"We're gonna be talking about policies that will change when Donald Trump is president and how those policies will help and benefit the people of the state of Michigan," he continued.
"We are presenting Michiganders with a very clear choice between Joe Biden, who's had their backs, who's worked hard to bring lower costs to families, to bring jobs to Michigan and to generally just take care of Michigan citizens and Americans versus Donald Trump, who very clearly has been running for himself and his cronies, and not for the people in Michigan and people of America," Barnes said.
But how does it affect voters' views?
Looking at the latest EPIC-MRA poll out in Michigan that asked voters back in February for whom they would vote if the election were held that day, it was 41% Biden for Biden and 45% for Trump. But when they asked people for whom they would vote if Trump was convicted of a crime in any of his pending cases and expected trials, it switched to a dead heat of 44% for each candidate.
Whether the parties do choose to keep the verdict out of the race, it's possible the magnitude of the jury's historic decision could factor in for some key voters as they go to the ballot box in November.
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