'Drop it': Trump argues Letitia James should let him walk after spending an 'interesting day' toget

[marble falls]

'Drop it': Trump argues Letitia James should let him walk after spending an 'interesting day' together
Tom Boggioni

April 14, 2023, 12:14 PM ET

https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-letitia-james-2659858057/


-snip-

The former president spent a reported seven hours speaking with investigators in the hope that he won't have to go to trial in a case where James is reportedly seeking a $250 million fine that could be the death knell of his business.

Without divulging any details of what was asked or said, the former president took to his Truth Social account to describe the encounter as an "interesting day."

-snip-

"An interesting day spent with the Attorney General and her representatives. I strongly made my 'points,' they are IRREFUTABLE, and it is a case that should not go forward," he wrote.

He then added, " My company and overall value is actually far stronger and higher than shown in the so-called Financial Statement. The honorable thing to do would be 'DROP IT,' and spend all of this time, money, and energy on fighting Violent Crime in New York. It would make a big difference, and show real strength and courage by the A.G.!"



Ms James will have his guts for garters. If he thinks he pulled any wool over her eyes, he's more stupid than Eric Trump looks.


Legal experts have questioned why Donald Trump did not invoke the Fifth Amendment when appearing for his second deposition in New York Attorney General Letitia James' business fraud lawsuit against his company.


https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-deposition-fifth-letitia-james-1794397

-snip-

Katie Phang, a lawyer and MSNBC legal analyst, suggested that it was a "colossal mistake by Trump to testify today before James' office, let alone for 7 hours..."

-snip-

Trump pleaded not guilty to all 34 charges against him, leading to speculation that the former president would invoke his Fifth Amendment right again while appearing for his deposition under James' case in order to protect himself in the criminal investigation.

Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti said it was "interesting" that Trump decided not to take the Fifth during his deposition, especially as he repeatedly did so last time.

-snip-

Replying to Mariotti's post, Eric Columbus, a former Department of Justice official, speculated that Trump decided not to invoke the Fifth on Thursday as he "may have (reasonably) concluded that the limited scope of the indictment, coupled with press reports, indicates that the Manhattan DA isn't pursuing any other charges against him."

-snip-.


Trump's office has been contacted for comment via email.

[leftieNanner]

1. Sounds like you are getting scared there Donnie

Really scared.

Sucks to be you.

[anciano]

2. It is my hope and understanding

that a jury will get to decide if his points are "irrefutable". Just saying...

[Skittles]

7. welcome to DU, anciano

let's just hope they can weed out the MAGAts

[Botany]

3. I don't think Allen Weisselberg wants to die in prison for Trump.

n/t

[marble falls]

6. That's what I think. I think he took a long shot bet that the Tangerine Scream would get him ...

... out of it. I'm sure he's had time to see how wrong he was.

[Botany]

8. Tish James has all the receipts, bank records, and witnesses too

And she will shut down all of his businesses in NY State and the 1/4 of billion fine is just the start.

[marble falls]

9. I think she finessed him into a perjury trick bag.

[lindysalsagal]

13. My first reaction, too. They probably smiled and stroked his

Ego, and accumulated more than enough lies to convict him. The fool had no idea that it was not a negotiation. It was an ammunition collection that will get his ass convicted in court.

Dumbass.

[soldierant]

27. That would not behard to do in a civil case.

If you plead the Fifth in a criminal trial, the jury is not allowed to hold it against you. If you plead the Fifth in a civil case, which this is, the jury is encouraged to hold it against you.

[Arazi]

32. Weisselberg will never rat out. Ever

His family would be destroyed by the Russian mob which owns them all.

His son works for TrumpCo too so he’s taking the fall to protect him as well.

His sentence is only 5 months. He’s almost done and will walk out and keep his mouth shut

[Skittles]

4. Trump is a lawyer's nightmare

dude just cannot STFU

[BOSSHOG]

20. In the not too distant future

Defending Trump will be a required course at legitimate law schools.

[jmowreader]

31. That would be a pretty short course

“Good morning, class. My name is Professor Terguson. This is Legal Affairs 405, How To Defend Donald Trump In A Court of Law. Teaching assistant, put up the first slide please.”

(The screen is filled with one word: DON’T.)

He’s guilty as fuck, he lies constantly, forty-seven lawyers have been disbarred because of him, and if he pays you it will be the first time in history he ever paid a lawyer. My recommendation is, if Donald Trump makes an appointment to see you go get a tattoo that day, so you won’t be in the office when he arrives. Everyone got that? Good. You all get an A.”

[ProfessorGAC]

5. So, His Company Finances Are In The Ditch Then

If he says it's far stronger than the statements show, it's incredibly likely the opposite is true.

[Wonder Why]

10. She should drop the charges - right into his fat hands!

[usedtobedemgurl]

39. Fat LITTLE Hands. NT

[louis-t]

11. He is hedging his bets.

I would say he figures (meaning his lawyers have told him) pleading the fifth might have a slightly worse outcome for him.

[soldierant]

28. Exactly.

[Skittles]

12. fucker is so used to getting his way

he cannot conceive of other possibilities

LOCK HIM UP

[bucolic_frolic]

14. "My company and overall value is actually far stronger and higher" - confession to undervaluation

The books are cooked!

[SunSeeker]

16. Exactly.

Is he really that stupid?

[ShazzieB]

18. I think he really is!

[runnergirl]

15. Playing with him

Like a cat with a toy. Love our AG here in NY.

[republianmushroom]

17. 26 months and counting

[Rhiannon12866]

19. She actually ran on holding TFG to account - one big reason she won in NY and she sure got my vote!

[marble falls]

29. I think she will make a good AGUS sometime in the future.

[Rhiannon12866]

30. Oh, I agree! She's completely determined - and she knows the law.

[Aussie105]

21. Trump's approach:

I gave myself permission to do what I did.

And you, little girl, are annoying me, I'm important and you are not. So drop this farce, ok?

Sounds like this is the old Mafia boss approach of 'You can't touch me!'

The response by L. James will be predictable.

[Phoenix61]

22. Best line ever!

Ms James will have his guts for garters. If he thinks he pulled any wool over her eyes, he's more stupid than Eric Trump looks.

[Talitha]

23. Letitia James is having fun - it's like shootn' a turd in a toilet.

[Aussie105]

24. Hopefully there will be court transcripts

for future students of the legal system to peruse and discuss all the things to avoid in court if you are in the hot seat.

Q: What do Trump and Mafia bosses have in common?
A: They walk into a courtroom thinking they can set the tone, set the rules, and declare certain things to be out of bounds.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

42. Oh, we'll see the transcripts

One way or another.

[DinahMoeHum]

25. "You Really Wanna Mess With Me, Boy?"

Fuck Around and Find Out

[nakocal]

26. By IRREFUTABLE he means that

he lied his ass off, but since he does not recognize reality (just like his supporters), he believed all of the shit he said.

[Beetwasher.]

33. I'll Bet a Dollar Trump Insisted on Testifying

And his ambulance chasers couldn’t stop him and are praying they get paid SOMETHING to cover their alimony payments.

[marble falls]

34. And his cut rate third string lawyers were too clueless to kick him under the table.

[kentuck]

35. "Your money or your life?"

"Hmmm....let me think about it..."

[malaise]

36. The Slobfather is

Stark raving mad.
That is all

[marble falls]

38. He's actually added further dimention to "stark raving".

[Vinca]

37. I still can't understand why he's facing a civil case and not criminal charges.

Isn't defrauding a bank to get mortgage money a crime?

[marble falls]

40. He didn't use a gun or extort. Allegedly.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

43. Civil cases can have decided advantages

IANAL, but it's my understanding that the evidentiary threshold is much lower in civil cases. A prosecutor/plaintiff only needs to establish a preponderance of the evidence, not the far more difficult criminal standard of "beyond a reasonable doubt."

The verdict doesn't need to be unanimous. Not sure how it works in New York, but some states only require a 7-5 or 8-4 jury split for a side to win.

A prosecutor/plaintiff can use taking the 5th against a defendant to sway a jury. "What is he hiding to take the 5th about his finances, hm?"

The most important thing to remember, though: At the end, a prosecutor can still file criminal charges, if the civil process uncovers evidence for it.

As they like to say in so many news articles these days, this story is developing, not final, so stay tuned.

PS: One benefit of civil cases in this particular instance is that it can hit Orange Foolius where it hurts him far worse than a criminal case would. In a criminal case, I doubt he'd ever serve actual time. Maybe house arrest at Merde-a-Loco. On the other hand, a civil case can sock it to his pocketbook, and on his ego image as the "successful businessman," because he could face fines that bankrupt him personally this time, and his business could go belly-up, too.

Even a "mere" civil case can have devastating ramifications for him and his so-called wealth.

[dembotoz]

41. trump pleading the 5th is a ready made campagin ad for anyone running against him

hell even i could write that copy...

yes it is his right but it sure looks back
and trump is all about how it looks