Greg Abbott faces backlash as he says Donald Trump’s hush money trial was ‘persecution’ and not ‘prosecution’

AUSTIN, TEXAS: Texas GOP Governor Greg Abbott asserted on Thursday, June 6, that former President Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial in New York was “persecution", rather than “prosecution", according to The Hill.

“I’m a former trial court judge,” Gov Abbott claimed on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box', adding, “And, the reality is, the rulings made by this trial judge in New York are completely wrong in so many respects. Look at the jury charge alone.”

What did Gov Greg Abbott say about Donald Trump's felony conviction?

Last month, a 12-person jury bench made history by unanimously convicting former President Donald Trump of 34 felony charges relating to falsifying business records to hide stories of his alleged extramarital affairs in the lead-up to the 2016 general campaign, marking the first time a former US president has faced such a conviction.

“And so, there’s every reason to expect this decision to be overturned. But also, most Americans view this as a miscarriage of justice,” Gov Abbott remarked on Thursday.

“And you can see it in the fundraising numbers, the polling numbers, that Trump has been able to receive in the aftermath of it. And also, maybe in part because this, maybe for other reasons, you’re seeing Trump gain more support in the Black community, in the Hispanic community, in all communities across the United States of America,” he explained.

“This is not a prosecution, this is a persecution,” Gov Abbott concluded.

Several other notable Republican lawmakers, like House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), have also come out in support of the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee and denounced the hush money felony conviction against him.

Sen Rubio said on Fox News’ ‘Hannity’ last week, “I think it’s terrible. I think what this shows today, is that they can go after a former president with a ridiculous charge like this and gain a conviction, they can go after anybody.”

The Sunshine State lawmaker remarked, “And most people can’t afford to fight this stuff off.”

House Speaker Johnson issued a statement following the Trump guilty verdict, saying it was “a shameful day in American history".

“The American people rightfully see this is lawfare, and they know it is — and dangerous,” he added.

“President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict — and he WILL WIN.”

Internet goes scorched earth over Greg Abbott's remarks on Donald Trump's conviction

Gov Greg Abbott faced severe backlash online following his remarks on Donald Trump's felony conviction.

One X user claimed, "Abbot also pardoned a convicted murderer because he thought politics should overrule a jury and the justice system."

Another user posted, "Somehow this man implies that jurors who have been agreed upon by both sides of Justice have some how been skewed into some kind of conspiracy against criminal Donald J. Trump. Now think about that. So somehow Justice was rigged by common people selected, Grand & Criminal Jurors?"

Another user asked, "Who cares what Abbott says?"

One user remarked, "That's rich coming from a governor who recently pardoned a murderer that was tried and convicted in a court of law."

Another X user said, "Abbott pardons a murderer one week and then endorses another felon the next. And I'm supposed to believe they're the party of law and order? Bulls**t."

Finally, this user tweeted, "Abbott needs mental cognitive testing."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.