'A sad day for America': Palm Beachers react to New York grand jury indictment of Donald Trump

Donald Trump's Palm Beach neighbors reacted to his indictment Thursday by a New York grand jury with a mix of emotions.

The former president, who owns and lives at the Mar-a-Lago Club on South Ocean Boulevard, faces unspecified criminal charges following an investigation into his role in covering up a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before his election in 2016.

Trump's indictment marks the first time a former U.S. president has been charged criminally.

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Bram Majtlis, a South End resident, called the indictment "a sad day for America," but he said he would not make any assumptions about the case until he had all the facts.

"We don't even know what's in the indictment, so we need to wait for that," said Majtlis, who said he was speaking for himself and not for the residents he represents as a member of various town and citizen boards. "I do feel it makes my trust in the American system a little bit better, because nobody is above the law. Accountability does matter."

Leta Austin Foster, a longtime Palm Beach resident who owns a design studio on Worth Avenue, agreed that those who break the law should be liable for their actions.

"It's a very important issue," she said. "I believe that Trump will get a fair trial, and that's important. In the end, whatever comes out, we all know it's the real thing and not a kangaroo court, which I don't in any way believe at all. It's been a long time coming, but I want him to have a fair trial. It would show that no one is above the law. Unfortunately, we've seen a lot of people, not just Trump, who think they're above the law."

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Majtlis added that even though Thursday's indictment involves a former president, people should look at the issue from a legal point of view rather than a political one.

"If you violate the law, if you break the law, you have to be held accountable for your actions," he said. "It's not political. Everybody should have the same accountability. That's how we should look at it. Let time in the system tell us what's next. I think if you trust the system, which I do, then everything will be played out. It needs to be played out."

Steven Stolman, a longtime Palm Beach resident who lives in the town's South End, said Trump's indictment was a first step toward helping to restore the values and norms that make Americans feel "safe, heard, respected and proud."

"(Thursday's) events, while I realize that they are only the tip of the iceberg, give me hope that in my lifetime, I might be able to feel a sense of pride and reverence for our system of government," he said. "I hope this process helps us get back to some semblance of dignity."

Gay Hart Gaines, president of the Palm Beach Republican Club, decried the indictment of the former president, calling Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg a "corrupt political hack."

"His treatment of President Trump is frightening," Gaines said of Bragg. "The sacred rule of law has been ignored, and our brilliant, patriotic Founding Fathers are turning in their graves."

Other Republicans in Palm Beach County stood by the former president as news broke Thursday evening of his indictment, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Palm Beach County Republican Party Chair Michael Barnett said he stands behind Trump, and said that he demands that Trump "be treated fairly and in accordance with the law ... as everyone is entitled to."

"Ultimately, we believe that he will be cleared of any wrongdoing and will emerge stronger than before," said Barnett, a longtime Trump ally who was appointed to the Palm Beach County Commission by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Trump's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, said Friday the former president will surrender to New York authorities, but will not take a plea deal in the case. He will be arraigned Tuesday.

Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: 'A sad day': Palm Beachers react to New York grand jury indictment of Trump