Donald Trump is apparently not enjoying a leisurely Sunday afternoon at his golf club in Virginia. White House pool reports state that Trump summoned Rudy Giuliani to come out to the club early this afternoon. When such a summons comes only hours after a TV interview that will go down in history as one of the most bizarre, and yet still revealing, it likely was not issued so the two buddies could hit a bucket of balls.
Rudy went back on our electric TeeVees this morning, because apparently he is a very slow learner. Indeed, judging by Giuliani’s appearance on ABC’s “This Week” with the Clinton guy, Rudy may be unteachable, or demonically-possessed, or Rudy is actually a liberal-democrat who has spent his life playing a moronic, self-important Republican, all so that he can rise-up at this actual moment in the national crises that is the Trump presidency, and save us. The possibilities listed all seem more likely than the fact that an experienced ex-prosecutor and politician, would go on television, hell, go in front of another person, and give an interview as a Trump advocate attempting to assist Trump in the current legal environment.
During an interview on ABC’s This Week, Giuliani hinted that Trump may have paid off multiple women over alleged affairs, suggested that the president might invoke his Fifth Amendment rights instead of speaking to special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, and insisted that Trump could ignore a subpoena from the special counsel. Giuliani also noted that he was only “halfway” up to speed on legal matters facing his client.
Sweet god-almighty sitting at a bench with a gavel. “Hinted about payments to women over ‘alleged’ affairs”? That the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF FRIGGIN’ AMERICA might invoke the 5th Amendment? Or, even better, initiate a constitutional crises nearly as big as the one that erupted in 1860 by having the president of a nation which requires its presidents to swear to uphold the constitution, (it does not require the president to swear ‘loyalty’ to the nation, it requires the president to swear to uphold the constitution, meaning without the constitution, there is no country to lead), having that president who has sworn to uphold the constitution fking ignore a subpoena? And, just in case Rudy “got any of the answers wrong,” he gave himself an out, by noting that he is only “half-way” up to speed on the legal matters facing his client,” but in overdrive in talking about them.
Try using this next time you’re in court, whether as an attorney or representing yourself: “But, your Honor, I made that admission when I was only half-way up to speed on the legal issues facing my client. At the time, I didn’t know that admitting that Trump paid off multiple women about affairs constituted an admission to felony violations of federal election law. So, we should throw out that admission and accept only my statements made knowing the legal jeopardy my client faced.”
Michael Avennatti loved every minute of it.
“It’s an absolute unmitigated disaster for Rudy Giuliani and the president, It’s a train wreck. I can’t believe that that actually just happened. I mean, what we witnessed by Rudy Giuliani may be one of the worst TV appearances by any attorney on behalf of a client in modern times.
To be fair, Avennatti is an attorney who does actually do interviews with the intent to advance his client’s cause, and thus one would not expect him to admit that Rudy did well, or hurt his case. On the other hand, vastly overstating or over-playing one’s hand does not serve a client’s interests, either, and thus we can believe that Avenatti is being fairly sincere here.
Just what lasting damage has Rudy managed? Well, the bomb damage assessment is still being done, and details are sketchy. But, this particular attorney wants to note something that has not been noted near enough, the principle thing that Rudy has done is continue to discuss his conversations with Trump, thus blowing-away any claims Trump might have with respect to attorney-client privilege regarding what he told Rudy and when, given that Giuliani has been on TV talking about their conversations! As I noted last night, all privileges can be waived, and the quickest way to waive attorney-client privilege is to tell third parties, like say, a national TV audience, the substance of your discussions with each other. Thus, Robert Mueller, as well as Michael Cohen’s prosecutors, will have a field day calling Rudy Giuliani to testify before the grand jury about these discussions, he can ask Rudy about which matter might Trump invoke his 5th Amendment privileges/rights? Rudy will also need to keep in mind that he will be testifying about discussions had with a man who lies more than he tells the truth. Will Rudy know if, and when, Trump lies to Rudy? Will Rudy sell out Trump, when the alternative is facing charges for conspiracy?
I suppose these are the types of questions Trump wants to go over while out at the club this afternoon.
