New Jersey lawmakers react to Trump indictment on eve of his arraignment

Former President Donald Trump arrived in New York Monday evening. He will turn himself in to be arraigned on criminal charges on Tuesday.

Matt Trapani

Apr 4, 2023, 1:17 AM

Updated 687 days ago

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Former President Donald Trump arrived in New York Monday evening. He will turn himself in to be arraigned on criminal charges on Tuesday.
Some of New Jersey’s lawmakers are reacting to Trump’s indictment as they work on the state’s budget.
“The same person that led rallies saying, ‘Lock her up. Lock her up,’ so you know, it’s karma,” says Democratic state Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly.
Wimberly represents Paterson.
“At the end of the day, this is the same guy who took out ads for the Central Park Five who were exonerated,” Wimberly says.
“I think the motive here is to destroy Donald Trump,” says Republican state Assemblyman Hal Wirths.
Wirths represents Sussex County in the northwestern corner of the state – an area that trends largely conservative.
“I don't think whether you're president, vice president, or [President Joe] Biden, or Hunter Biden - nobody’s above the law. But I think this is a wild goose chase,” Wirths says.
There have been plenty of Republican vs. Democrat feuds at the New Jersey State House over the decades, but lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in Trenton say that they more or less get along.
“To be quite honest, I wish that at the federal level they would take an example from the way that we treat each other and the way that we get along,” says Democratic state Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin.
One thing that Wirths and Wimberly agree on - is whether Trump is found innocent or guilty, it won't much affect the day-to-day lives of people in their districts.
“I think the people in New York and New Jersey are much more concerned about serious crime than they are about this charge,” says Wirths.
“It will not affect my life. I don't think it's going to impact the people that I deal with on a daily basis’s life,” says Wimberly.
Trump is set to speak from Florida Tuesday night after his New York court appearance.