Fil-Am Republicans stand by Trump despite guilty verdict

Clockwise from top left: Mayor Ron Falconi, Noel Omega, Josie Harrison, Maria Luna Orth, Gus Alzona and Edward Logan. CONTRIBUTED

NEW YORK CITY – In an unprecedented development, former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in a hush money criminal trial, marking a historic first for a former US president.

Despite this significant verdict, a notable portion of Filipino Americans remain steadfast in their support for Trump, indicating their intention to vote for him in the upcoming November elections.

This group’s unwavering allegiance to Trump, even in the face of his felony conviction, highlights a complex and multifaceted political landscape.

For many Fil-Am Republicans, Trump’s policies and rhetoric resonate strongly, overshadowing the legal controversies surrounding him.

This steadfast support underscores the deep divisions and passionate loyalties that characterize the current US political climate.

Ron Falconi, mayor of Brunswick, Ohio, vehemently denounced the guilty verdict against Trump, calling it “a legal travesty and a living disgrace.”

“This only highlights what President Trump has been saying all along – that the system is rigged against him. This was a partisan witch-hunt where a Democrat judge, Democrat prosecutor, along with a jury from Democrat NYC, worked to stop the leading GOP nominee from campaigning against their president,” Falconi, a staunch supporter of Trump, told INQUIRER.net USA.

Mayor Falconi believes that the verdict will backfire on Democrats, galvanizing Republicans like himself to redouble their efforts to reclaim the White House in the upcoming November election.

“The American people see this for what it is – partisan games to help out the Biden campaign because they are doing poorly in the polls,” he said. “The Democrats and their allies in the media have miscalculated. This will actually draw more people to vote for the Trump campaign.”

The trial, which culminated on May 30, saw a Manhattan jury convict Trump on felony charges related to an illegal conspiracy aimed at undermining the 2016 presidential election.

Central to the case was a hush money payment to an adult film star, a move prosecutors argued was part of an unlawful attempt to suppress negative information and sway the election’s outcome.

Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled Trump’s sentencing for July 11, with potential penalties ranging from probation to prison time.

Following the verdict, Trump supporters expressed outrage on various social media platforms, calling for riots, violence and even civil war.

Some extreme posts suggested attacking jurors and executing Judge Merchan, revealing the intense anger and loyalty within Trump’s base.

Noel Omega, a community and business leader based in Los Angeles, believed that Trump’s case “was politically motivated and the verdict was not reached through an impartial application of the law.”

The circumstances surrounding the allegations leveled against Trump, according to Omega, suggest a potential bias in the prosecution’s pursuit of a guilty verdict, seemingly driven by partisan rhetoric and perceived judicial overreach.

Edward Logan, a Fil-Am community leader in Washington DC, also believed there was a lack of impartiality, claiming “the state of New York and the composition of the jury are all biased, therefore justice was not served.”

“Yes, I will still vote for him,” he said.

It is anticipated that the Trump camp will seek to challenge the verdict through an appeal process in an effort to overturn the decision.

Despite this ruling, Omega said he will continue to support Trump’s willingness to run for the 2024 Presidential Election and look forward to supporting him in his patriotic endeavors.

“My favorable opinion of Donald Trump is not diminished despite the lawfare being done by the Left to stop his second-term run for the presidency,” said Omega, National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Greater LA Board chair and region president.

Despite the gravity of his conviction, Trump remains the presumptive GOP nominee for the 2024 presidential race. His defiant stance was evident in his reaction to the jury’s decision, which he labeled a “disgrace.”

Trump has urged his supporters to see the “real verdict” as the outcome of the November 5 election, framing it as a critical battleground for his political comeback.

Maria Luna Orth, a small business owner based in the Bay Area and member of FilAms for Trump, also stated she will still vote for Trump despite his guilty verdict.

“There was no crime committed and Trump is innocent,” she said. “What happened in NYC was a total disgrace and abuse of democracy. I’m totally disgusted with Juan Merchan, Alvin Bragg and Letitia James.”

“I am more certain than ever – I will vote for Trump this coming November,” said Josie Harrison, mother of comedian JoKoy, who is also a community leader and radio personality in Las Vegas.

“(Trump) still has our support, going forward,” said Gus Alzona, the Maryland-based senior foreign policy and social issues advisor for the 2016 Trump for President campaign.

As the November elections approach, the resilience of Trump’s support base, including many Fil-Ams, suggests that his legal battles may not significantly erode his political influence. Instead, Trump’s narrative of victimization and political persecution may continue to galvanize his supporters, positioning him as a formidable contender in the upcoming race.