As news broke early Thursday evening about the indictment of former President Donald Trump, reaction was swift from politicians, pundits and readers.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D-CT) released a statement Thursday night just minutes after the indictment was reported.

“No person is above the law – and violations should be pursued no matter how powerful the person is. A grand jury has reportedly decided to charge former President Trump after an intensive investigation lasting many months. Our justice system has an obligation to pursue the facts and law wherever they lead. Former President Trump will have the same rights as any criminal defendant and the justice system will presume him innocent until proven guilty,” Blumenthal wrote.

State Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) released a statement together.

"We are not surprised that Donald Trump, who openly flaunted the rule of law and disdained our legal institutions, has now been indicted,“ they wrote.

State Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, said in a statement that: “This is a serious moment in the history of our country and we must have faith and perseverance to allow our system of justice to find the truth. Although steps in this process may be frustrating to some and test their personal beliefs, the United States of America has the best justice system in the world. No one is above the law and everyone has the right to a fair and impartial trial. I hope for a expedient and final resolution to this matter so our country can move forward.”

But former Republican Congressman Rob Simmons of Stonington called the indictment of the former president as a “sad day for America. A bad day for America.”

Simmons warned that the precedent has been set now in which one party can charge any former president for anything. He called it a disgrace.

“The indictment of former President Trump on trumped up charges is bogus,” he said. “If you do this to one side, it opens up charges from the other side. This is the last thing we need in America with the divisiveness we have today.

Lee Elci, the host of the popular morning conservative news talk show on 94.9 FM, observed like Blumenthal did that nobody is above the law.

“But, and it’s a huge but, if this winds up being nothing more than hush money to cover up a one night stand with a porn star, and there’s really zero connection to election fraud, and it’s just simply another pathetic character flaw for Trump, then I think his claim of weaponizing the judicial system becomes valid,” Elci said.

He acknowledged Democrats are likely cheering the news but questioned the wisdom of their celebration.

“I think this is the worst thing that could happen for them. And that’s because I think it makes him a martyr, number one,” he said. “The other part of this is I don’t think he can win. I think there’s too many people who don’t like Trump. So I’m not really sure if this is a celebration time for Democrats.”

On the other side, he said he anticipated protests from Trump’s supporters.

“At least 30 percent of the Republican party thinks that Trump walks on water. I think that they will do anything and everything to assist him. If they think taking it to the streets will assist him, then they will.”

Elci cautioned there are much more serious allegations looming, including any charges stemming from the investigation into whether Trump and his allies committed crimes while trying to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia.

He described the hush money case as an embarrassment if that’s the only charge Democrats can get to stick.

“You roll your eyes,” he said. “If this is the best they’ve got, they don’t have much.”

The State Republican party did not respond to a request for comment.

On The Day’s website, readers began debating the indictment as soon as the story was posted.

“This clown DA will get spanked in the long run. A Grand Jury can indict a ham sandwich,” wrote reader Paul Nunes.

“The Hoax continues,” added Robert Patten.

“I care less about a FORMER presidents side piece, and more about our CURRENT presidents’ personal/business ties to China and Ukraine, wrote William Peter.

But Derek Watkins wrote “Lock him up.”

And Frank Rogers added, “The walls are closing in…Here we go!!! JUSTICE”