Law prof Kathleen Clark on MSNBC just suggested perhaps DT cannot divest.

[pnwmom]

She said we don't know what his debts are; only his assets. And she pointed out you cannot divest yourself of debts -- that would be declaring bankruptcy.

In other words, maybe he can't divest because he's underwater.

[annabanana]

1. Now THIS seems a reasonable explanation.

rock, meet hard place...

[Blaukraut]

2. that theory has been around for a while now and makes the most sense, tbh n/t

[BainsBane]

3. Yes, others have suggested that

I expect it's true.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

4. K&R nt

[anarch]

5. also a good reason not to want to release tax returns

"King of Debt" indeed...

[csziggy]

6. That was discussed almost a month agao

Maybe the Answer Is That He Can't Divest

ByJosh MarshallPublishedDecember 8, 2016, 7:25 PM EDT

<SNIP>

The idea that Trump is heavily leveraged and reliant on on-going cash flow to keep his business empire from coming apart and collapsing into bankruptcy was frequently discussed during the campaign. But it's gotten pretty little attention since he was elected.

Here's something else.

After Trump got into that scuffle with Boeing, reporters asked about his ownership of Boeing stock. Trump replied that he'd already sold that stock. So there was no problem. But there's a bit more to it than that.

According to his spokesman, Trump sold all of his stock back in June, a portfolio which his disclosures suggest was worth as much as $38 million. Trump told Matt Lauer that he sold the stock because he was confident he'd win and "would have a tremendous ... conflict of interest owning all of these different companies" while serving as President.

Now, c'mon. Donald Trump sold off all his equities more than six months before he could become president because he was concerned about conflicts of interest? Please. That doesn't pass the laugh test.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/maybe-the-answer-is-that-he-can-t-divest

[pnwmom]

8. And now there's a law professor discussing it on cable. Good. n/t

[csziggy]

9. Even though this was all KNOWN well before the election

Not on main stream media outlet discussed it. It was pretty obvious that The Donald was never going to divest. I thought that was because he didn't believe he was going to win but now I think he wasn't ever because there is no specific law requiring him to - and he will push every law to the absolute limit. He only obeys laws he hasn't been able to get away with violating.

[Caliman73]

21. He has a very established record of lying.

He sold his stock for whatever reason, but will spin it to whatever makes him sound the best. The Boeing stock is one thing but he has dealings with Russia and China and in my opinion, those positions have already influenced his behavior toward the two countries.

[csziggy]

22. My first assumption with Trump is that he lies

He lies when there is no reason to lie. He lies about things that are completely verifiable - like things he said on video.

If his mouth is moving or his fingers twiddling on Twitter, Trump is lying.

[Angry Dragon]

7. he is swimming in the swamp

[pansypoo53219]

10. pre election- "i am rich". post election. "i am poor". asshat.

[superpatriotman]

11. Negative net worth

I've been screaming this to all who would listen for months

[TygrBright]

12. Yes. And not only in debt, but a substantial percentage of it held by the Russian Mob. n/t

[meadowlander]

15. The dossier suggests he's in it up to his neck with the Chinese as well

and that the campaign is more concerned about those connections coming out than the links to Russia.

[Vinca]

13. That would make sense. His whole empire seems to be a house of cards.

[ProudLib72]

14. Well duh,

we've known he was in the red for a year now. This is not a revelation. It will be to the millions who voted for him because he was such a brilliant businessman.

[Jacob Boehme]

16. I vote he has the bunk below O.J.

[Thor_MN]

17. We don't even know what his assets are, he refuses to release his tax returns.

[keithbvadu2]

18. Oh, it just cannot be. Donald says he is worth billions. Ten billion at one boast.

You cannot use this reason to not divest if you are a man of honor.

Anyone see any flaws in this theory?

(sarcasm thingie goes here)

[okieinpain]

19. makes sense. n/t.

[longship]

20. Josh Marshal at TPM suggested that a couple of weeks ago.

Indeed. Drumpf may have a very good reason for not releasing his tax returns, too.

[spanone]

23. well, maybe he shouldn't have run for the presidency.