Hours after Donald Trump was convicted in the controversial hush money case, his campaign has sent a clear message to down-ballot Republicans who are attempting to fundraise off of the ex-president’s conviction: Back Off. “Any Republican elected official, candidate or party committee siphoning money from President Trump’s donors are no better than Judge Merchan’s daughter,” said Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita. She added that they are keeping a list “We’ll be checking it twice and we aren’t in the spirit of Christmas.”
Trump’s political operation views the guilty verdict in the New York hush money trial as a small-dollar goldmine—so much so that they are warning other Republicans not to raise money off it and siphon off money that could otherwise go to the Trump campaign. In recent months, his election campaign has consistently reached out to potential donors through a series of fundraising appeals, utilizing methods such as text messages and other channels.
Here’s all you need to know about Trump’s conviction
On Thursday, a New York jury found the former ex-President guilty of falsifying documents to conceal a payment to silence a porn star before the 2016 election. Trump faced 34 felony counts, all of which he was found guilty of. He condemned the trial as “disgraceful” and insisted that the public would see through what he described as a politically motivated prosecution.
Trump is expected to appeal the verdict swiftly. As the political and legal battles continue, both his supporters and opponents brace for further developments in this unprecedented case.
