Locals cheer, jeer Trump indictment

Apr. 1—Former President Donald Trump was indicted Thursday by a New York grand jury in an alleged hush-money payment scheme.

It's the first time in U.S. history a former president has been indicted on criminal charges.

The News asked area residents for reaction:

— Don Reid, retiree, Vietnam veteran, entrepreneur, lives in Clovis.

"I have never seen one person scare the entire Congress as bad as President Trump has," Reid said Thursday.

Reid described the indictment as "just another witch hunt."

"Didn't Bill Clinton do the same thing with no indictment? I think most people are tired of spending tax dollars to calm politicians fears."

— Victoria Robledo is a Clovis resident.

"Everything catches up to us eventually," Robledo said. "No one is above the law."

— Dennis Lopez is a Roosevelt County Commissioner.

"I think it's very premature," he said. "With our democracy, we have the right to be innocent until proven guilty."

v Laura Wight is co-founder of the area "progressive" group, Eastern New Mexico Rising.

"Justice is served and long overdue," Wight said. "The former president is not above the law. Lock him up."

"I wonder if he'll be tried as an adult?" Wight added.

— Former Clovis City Commissioner and Curry County Republican Party Chairman Rube Render writes a weekly column for The News.

"I'm not a lawyer nor do I play one on TV," Render said. "This indictment proves the old line about prosecutors being able to indict a ham sandwich. Democrats are once again soiling their undies at the prospect of Donald Trump being found guilty of something.

"Alas, they will be disappointed one more time."

"To date, nobody is sure that a crime has been committed, and if a crime has been committed, the statute of limitations has run its course."

— Theresa McLeod lives in Farwell.

"I'm seriously celebrating," she said.

"I'm even going to have a beer."