'Darkest day in our history': Trump's allies tear into 'kangaroo court' that found him guilty on 34 counts and insists he will be vindicated on appeal... and in November

After Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in the hush money trial, Republicans immediately rushed to his defense - and seemed confident the conviction will be overturned. 

'Today is a shameful day in American history,' House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement. 

'Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one.' 

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., posted an upside down flag on X and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, called it a 'travesty of justice.' 

The upside down flag has been at the center of a controversy with Justice Samuel Alito.  

The jury of seven men and five women made their decision as the former President faced 34 counts of falsifying business records. His sentencing date is set for July 11. 

It comes after five weeks of dramatic evidence and 22 witnesses being quizzed on the stand.

The case is the first time a former U.S. President has faced a criminal trial.

'Today is one of the darkest days in the history of our country,' said Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas. 'I don't know if our country can ever recover from the abuse of this government on President Donald Trump.'

'There is no doubt in my mind this will be overturned on appeal. You have poked the bear, and I will fight like hell to get President Trump back in the White House.' 

Rumored Trump VP contender Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio: 'This verdict is an absolute miscarriage of justice. 'While the outcome of this trial will no doubt be subject to appeal, it's a disgrace to our judicial system that such measures will be necessary.' 

The Trump team has vowed to appeal the conviction. He will now face the Appellate Division in Manhattan, and possibly the Court of Appeals, and will remain free on bail while he appeals.

Maryland Senate candidate Larry Hogan was one rare Republican who called on the public to respect the rule of law after the decision.

'Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders—regardless of party—must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation.' 

Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, shot back: 'You just ended your campaign.' 

After Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in the hush money trial, Republicans immediately rushed to his defense - and seemed confident the conviction will be overturned

And while the verdict had been decided by a jury, Republicans tore into Judge Juan Merchan and District Attorney Alvin Bragg. 

'This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA,' said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

'The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Biden's failing radical policies,' said Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chair and a close Trump ally. 

'Americans see through Democrats' lawfare tactics and know President Trump will be vindicated on appeal,' he went on.  

'WELCOME TO THE SOVIET UNION!!!!!' said Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas. 'This country will NEVER be the same again! A TRULY SAD and PATHETIC day for America. This verdict is an ABSOLUTE DISASTER for ALL Americans!!'

The verdict could upend the 2024 White House race and prove a pivotal moment in the history of the United States.

The charges Trump faced each carried a maximum potential sentence of up to four years in prison.

Jurors had the option of convicting Trump of all counts, acquitting him of all counts, or delivering a mixed verdict in which he was found guilty of some charges and not others.

Falsifying business records would typically be a lower-level misdemeanor, but his charges have been raised to felony level because of a second crime: attempting to influence the 2016 election. 

The judge could consider the unprecedented nature of the case and choose not to put a former president and current candidate behind bars. 

'I can't believe the hoax. The Sham. This absolute injustice justice system,' said Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., another possible VP contender.  

'The verdict in New York is a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our system of justice,' said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., whose name has been floated as a potential VP pick for Trump. 'Biden and the Trump deranged left will stop at nothing to remain in power.'

Democrats, meanwhile, tore into Trump and called for respect for the ruling. 

'Boom,' said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

'Guilty. Today, 12 ordinary American citizens found a former president guilty of dozens of felonies. Despite his efforts to distract, delay, and deny – justice arrived for Donald Trump all the same. And the rule of law prevailed,' said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who is currently running for a Senate seat. 

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.,  said: 'It matters that the Republican nominee for president is a convicted criminal.' 

'And this won't be his last conviction,' he claimed. 'He's committed multiple crimes and he's going to be convicted multiple times. He can never be president again.'

'Today's verdict shows how corrupt, rigged, and unAmerican the weaponized justice system has become under Joe Biden and Democrats,' said GOP conference chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., whose name has also been floated on the shortlist for VP. 

'I fully support President Trump appealing this decision and look forward to a higher New York Court to deliver justice and overturn this verdict. The facts are clear: this was a zombie case illegally brought forward by a corrupt prosecutor doing Joe Biden's political bidding in a desperate attempt to save Joe Biden's failing campaign. The case hinged on the testimony of a convicted felon who was disbarred for lying and perjured himself when he lied to Congress,' she said, referring to Michael Cohen. 

'Extremist Democrats have undermined democracy by weaponizing the courts to operate like a banana republic that targets their political opponents,' House Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., wrote in a statement. 

Prosecutors told of a plot by Trump to 'corrupt' the 2016 election by hiding a $130,000 hush money payment by his 'fixer' Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels. 

Daniels alleged that she and Trump had sex a decade earlier, which he has denied.

The case featured explosive evidence by Daniels and lifted the lid on the 'catch and kill' practices of the National Enquirer tabloid, which bought stories that could be damaging to Trump and suppressed them.

But the actual criminal charges concern the reimbursements Trump signed for Cohen for the payment.

The reimbursements, paid by Trump in monthly installments, were recorded as being for legal expenses.

Prosecutors say that was a fraudulent label designed to conceal the purpose of the hush money transaction and to illicitly interfere in the 2016 election. 

Defense lawyers argued that Cohen actually did substantive legal work for Trump and his family and was paid for it. 

In a marathon day of closing arguments on Tuesday prosecutors and defense lawyers had one final chance to score points with jurors as they embarked on their momentous task.

The two sides offered wildly different accounts of Trump's culpability, the strength of the evidence, and the credibility of witnesses.