Do New York Voters Think the Trump Trial Is Legitimate?

The majority of New York voters view their state’s trial against former President Donald Trump as legitimate, according to a new Siena College poll.

The recent survey asked likely voters in the Empire State their views on the Trump trial, in which the former president has been charged with falsifying business records to cover up hush money payment to a porn star. Prosecutors on Tuesday alleged Trump committed a second crime: "conspiracy to promote or prevent election." About 54% of New Yorkers said they believe the trial is “legitimate” while 34% view it as a “witch hunt.”

Unsurprisingly, partisan tilt is the strongest indicator for whether a New Yorker thinks the Trump trial is legitimate. Among those who see the Trump trial as legitimate are 77% of Democrat respondents and 44% of independents. About two out of three Republican respondents think the case is a “witch hunt” against Trump.

Trump has often employed the phrase “witch hunt” in reference to the various inquiries, impeachment attempts, and court cases he has been subjected to since his grand entrance on the political stage nine years ago. The former president and his followers believe the many attempts to uncover illegal behavior have been politically motivated and are not grounded in reality. 

The New York trial, which began last week, is one of four criminal trials facing Trump and accompanies three civil suits against him. Trump has complained that the legal cases are taking focus away from his presidential campaign, and he has had to divert approximately $76 million – which could otherwise be used to campaign against President Biden – to pay for his legal fees. He currently leads Biden in the national head-to-head by 0.2 percentage points in the RCP Average, a virtual dead heat. 

The trial has garnered much media coverage and also seems to have grabbed the attention of the majority of New Yorkers: 60% of respondents said they are watching the trial, paying either “some” or a “great deal” of attention to the proceedings.

The result of the trial could have a significant impact on Trump’s campaign: 9% of Trump supporters say they would not vote for him if he were convicted of a felony, according to a nationwide survey by the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab.