WARREN, Mich. (WXYZ) — People in Macomb County are reacting after a jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts against him in his hush money trial.
The 12-person jury in New York determined that Trump participated in a scheme aimed at suppressing stories he feared could be harmful to his 2016 presidential run.
"Woo-hoo. Yes," Serena Brown of Madison Heights cheered when asked about her reaction to the verdict. "I'm very happy. It was long coming due.”
“It's garbage. That's what I think it is,” Michael Frazier of Taylor said. “It's a political persecution."
“I think it’s frivolous. They’re stretching it — they really are," Sal Pansera of Almont said. "They’ll dig up whatever they can to hurt his reputation.”
“I think it’s great," Mercedes Wittrock of Shelby Township said. “He's not the right person for the United States.”
All 34 counts are felony counts related to accusations arising from reimbursements paid to then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.
This comes after he made a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels to silence her claims that she and Trump had sex in 2006.
VIDEO: Political expert says Michigan matters 'enormously' in November as voters process Trump verdict
“I think it was the facts. They got him on the paperwork, the checks — that's the evidence,” Truman Dyer of Roseville said. "The paperwork told the truth.”
"Thank goodness he was held accountable for the charges that seem to me to be very clear,” Shelby Township voter Michael Germain said. "Maybe some people will wake up and not elect a felon.”
Macomb County has been a strong county for Trump. He won the county in 2016 by 11 percentage points and eight percentage points in 2020. We visited Warren, Utica and Shelby Township and heard from voters, some coming from all across metro Detroit.
“I think it was set up by the Democratic Party to persecute a candidate they know has the ability to beat them,” Frazier said of the trial.
“Wrong is wrong. Right is right," Brown added. "I feel like everybody should be accountable for all wrongdoings."
While we heard very different opinions on the trial itself, there was one thing that everyone we spoke to agreed on. Did the outcome factor into who you’re going to vote for in November?
"No, not at all,” Beth Folz said.
“For me, no," answered Maria Lacaria from Macomb. "I'm still a Trump fan."
“I had my mind made up already,” Dyer said. "The Capitol was stormed. I don't care what anyone says, he had it done.”
“I'm not super happy with Biden, but I will vote for Biden no matter what, because I don’t want him (Trump),” Wittrock said.
“I hope it'll open up people’s eyes to see how corrupt things are,” Pansera said. "I think it’ll help people make the decision better and hopefully want to change."
