N.Y. reacts to the Trump verdict and how it could end up at the U.S. Supreme Court

Plus: what I'm watching in the final days of the legislative session.

Good afternoon — it’s Friday and National Smile Day.

FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2024

TODAY’S CAPCON:

• What New York’s political class said about the Trump verdict.

• How could the case wind up at the U.S. Supreme Court? I’ll explain.

• What are you watching in the final week of session?

🔨 Is Monday a Session Day? Yes.

🌞 Tonight’s Weather: Albany: Mostly clear, low 50s. New York City: Mostly clear, low 60s. (National Weather Service)

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(Brendan McDermid/Associated Press)

⚖️ React-O-Mat^TM:How N.Y. politicos reacted to the Trump verdict

🗣️ Everyone had something to say. Some have more on the line than others.

Unless you’ve been asleep for the last 24 hours, you’ll know that a jury convicted former President Donald J. TRUMP Thursday in a case related to hush money payments he made to an adult film star prior to the 2016 election.

• The actual charges were for allegedly falsifying business records to hide those payments.

And we sort of know how voters in New York feel about that. Sort of.

A poll from Siena College a few weeks ago asked registered voters in New York if they would be more or less likely to vote for Trump if he was convicted.

• 14 percent said they would be more likely while 17 percent said less likely.

• 8 percent of Democrats and 30 percent of Republicans said they would be more likely.

• 23 percent of Democrats and 7 percent of Republicans said they would be less likely.

The poll also found President Joe BIDEN within nine points of losing New York to Trump, though 14 percent of voters said they didn’t know who to pick or would vote for neither.

An Emerson College poll released Friday found a tighter race with 44 percent of registered voters in New York for Biden and 38 percent for Trump.

• It’s important to note that the poll was conducted before Thursday’s verdict. We don’t know if those asked would now have a different answer.

He’s the first president in U.S. history to be convicted of a crime and has said his legal team plans to appeal the decision. More on that in a moment.

But top elected officials and those running to become one had a lot to say in reaction to the verdict. This is your React-O-Mat^TM.

🗣️ What the top of New York’s political food chain said.

Some reactions are easy to predict. Others are not.