The verdict related to an alleged hush money payment by former U.S. President, Donald Trump, which resulted in his conviction in a Manhattan court, has surprisingly led to an upsurge in his popularity. Notably, the verdict appears to have galvanized the support of a significant voter demographic. A large section of the fighting community, including several Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions, have openly stated their support for the former president in the aftermath of the verdict.
According to a Friday report by the Western Journal, various notable personalities from the fighting community rallied around Trump upon receiving the news of the seemingly fierce court decision. Undeterred by the legal outcome, their public statements reveal a strengthened resolve and confidence in the former president.
Former UFC champion Michael Chandler was one of the first to express solidarity with Trump. An Instagram post showing Chandler alongside the 45th US president served as a public display of his unwavering support. The sportsman’s public support of Trump underscores his belief in the former president’s ability to overcome the recent setback.
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Further reinforcing the power of the fighting community’s backing behind Trump, retired UFC Champion, Tito Ortiz made his stance known. Changing his profile picture on his X account to one where he is seen holding an American Flag and wearing fighting trunks emblazoned with ‘Trump 2024’. Ortiz’s actions send a clear message of his unshaken faith in Trump’s leadership and potential political comeback.
In addition to the photograph, Ortiz posted additional photos with the former president. He captioned this with a confident prediction about Trump’s political future, remarking cryptically, ‘Just like that, the new president. He will still win. Just watch.’
The verdict against Trump resulted in a considerable pushback from legal experts, many of whom have pinpointed substantial defects in the case. These critics believe that District Attorney Alvin Bragg of Manhattan has based the case on fabricated offenses.
In addition to the perceived flaws in the indictment, reputational attorneys and legal experts remarked that the charges the former president faced were negligible and should, at most, be classified as misdemeanors. Despite this, DA Bragg chose to escalate these offenses to felonies — a move seen by some as a statement rather than an act of justifiable legal proceedings.
#NewProfilePic #Trump2024 pic.twitter.com/sqx4r8kc5y
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) May 31, 2024
Several legal analysts – including high-profile defense attorneys – also highlighted perceived bias within the case’s proceedings. They argue that presiding Judge Juan Merchan showed noticeable favoritism against Trump’s defense team, a fact that, in their view, further undermines the credibility of the verdict.
After the court handed down Trump’s guilty verdict, Constitutional Law Professor and respected legal analyst Jonathan Turley gave a candid interview. Turley asserted that concerning both procedural and constitutional considerations, the case holds substantial potential for an appeal and likely reversal of the verdict.
Turley delivered his perspective to Fox News just moments after the verdict, making Trump the first former president in the history of the U.S. to have a felony conviction. Turley questioned the verdict, citing the potential for reversible errors, a factor that could shed a different light on the entire case.
He confidently expressed, ‘I think the level of reversible error here is quite considerable. It runs the waterfront of procedural to constitutional problems, including federal constitutional violations.’ Turley proceeds, questioning certain aspects of the case that might hint at a lack of clarity around the reasoning behind the jury’s decision.
In emphasizing the points he finds troubling, Turley points to an undisclosed document he suggests could shed light on the verdict. ‘We have not seen that jury form,’ he notes, implying the basis the jury used for their conviction decision is still not clear.
Despite the circumstances, Turley professed optimism about the eventual outcome of the case. He indicated his confidence in the New York appellate system, noting its credibility and reputation for delivering just rulings. He said, ‘I’m fairly confident of that. Now, in the New York appellate system, they have a rule for Trump.’
Turley wrapped up his interview by expressing faith that justice will at some point prevail. He underlined his view that personal animosity towards Trump is not a valid reason to disregard the evidence (or its lack thereof). He concluded by expressing sympathy for the jury members, believing they may have been forced to convict due to the instructions they received and the significant lowering of conviction standards in the case.
He concluded, ‘They were given instructions that made it very easy to convict. And some of them might not have seen a real option not to, given how low these standards seem.’ Turley’s concluding remarks encapsulate the heart of concerns surrounding the case while underscoring the myriad reasons many remain optimistic about Trump’s future.