April 15, 2024
Trump’s Hush Money Trial
Marist New York State Poll
New Yorkers Sound Off on Trump Hush Money
Former President Donald Trump’s felony hush money trial will begin today, and New Yorkers divide about whether Trump has done something illegal. New Yorkers who think Trump has not broken the law do not necessarily give the former president a free pass. More than one in four say Trump has done something unethical but not illegal. The hush money case is just one of a slew of legal battles facing Trump, and six in ten New Yorkers think those investigations are warranted and not a means to thwart Trump’s 2024 presidential bid.
51% of New Yorkers think Trump engaged in illegal activity to cover up an alleged relationship with Stormy Daniels by falsifying business records. However, close to half (47%) are not convinced that Trump broke the law. 27% think he did something unethical but not illegal, and one in five (20%) say Trump did nothing wrong.
New York State Democrats (71%) are more likely than Republicans (17%) and non-enrolled voters (47%) to report Trump broke the law.
A gender gap exists. 57% of women, compared with 45% of men, think Trump did something illegal.
Six in ten New Yorkers (60%) think, in general, the investigations into Trump are fair and intended to find out if Trump broke the law. 39% say they are unfair and intended to get in the way of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
While most Democrats statewide (82%) and a majority of non-enrolled voters (57%) say the probes have been fair, more than three in four Republicans in New York (76%) believe the investigations are politically motivated.