As you have undoubtedly heard, Donald Trump did what all mobsters do — according to him — and pleaded the Fifth, that he had the right to not answer in order not to incriminate himself. He also put up a pathetic little blurb on Truth Social about why.
Apologies for legibility. Truth Social is not the most stable platform in the world, ergo it’s easier to copy from Twitter.
He declined to answer on the advice of counsel. That translates as “this is the best move under the circumstances, because the circumstances are so screwed.”
BREAKING: Trump pleads Fifth, refuses to answer NY AG questions about Trump Organization’s alleged tax and financial fraud.
This is a civil case — so the court can draw an inference of liability.
This is exactly what the AG was hoping to achieve. The case is now even stronger.
— Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) August 10, 2022
Don Jr. and Ivanka did not plead the Fifth, likely because their involvement with the fraud was minimal.
Donald Trump pled the Fifth, because he was almost certainly running the fraud.
— Tristan Snell (@TristanSnell) August 10, 2022
Judges routinely instruct jurors that they can draw an “adverse inference” against a defendant who takes the Fifth in a civil case.
If Trump is not sued, but is just a third party, it is possible but less certain that a judge would give an adverse inference instruction.
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) August 10, 2022
Trump lies with abandon in public media, but has scrupulously avoided testifying or submitting statements that could expose him to criminal liability, e.g. Congress, Grand Jury, NY AG investigation. Upshot: he is unwilling to have his statements subject to any objective scrutiny.
— Andrew Weissmann (@AWeissmann_) August 10, 2022
There are legitimate lawyers saying that this was Trump’s best move at this time. What that means is that the can is kicked down the road. Trump did what he could at this point and now the legal wheels will grind along.
But donnnnie, pleading the fifth is what only criminals do remember? Mob criminals in fact. Fucking loser. lmao
I imagine his attorneys want this to be kicked down the road until TFG finally drops dead whether from having a shit fit or from finally succumbing to his less than stellar lifestyle.
Tish James should be able to wrap up her case by the end of the year. She finally has the depositions of the Trumps and most of the documents she subpoenaed. Now, it’s just a matter of putting it all together and filing the suit. I don’t think they’ll be able to delay any court proceedings this time around, at least for any substantial amount of time. After all, he’s basically a Floriduh retiree with no immunity.
She doesn’t need his testimony.
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She did need him saying I take the 5th. In civil cases that is as much as a guilty plea.
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For loan after loan, and tax bill after tax bill on the SAME asset (for lots of properties/assets) Trump signed his name to documents that when it came to their worth and therefore how much tax he owed was one thing, but when he wanted to use an asset(s) as collateral to get a loan from a bank he said it was much higher.
He either lied to the taxing (local, state and federal) or he lied to the banks. (Ok, maybe he lied to both of them!) but there is actual documentation that he lied. Committed fraud. Broke the law. It’s really that simple. Juror’s eyes might glaze over due to the number of transactions and attempts by the defense to throw shit in the works and the prosecution having to clean up some of it but in the end it’s actually simple.
During opening statements the prosecution can show the first page of a tax statement and the last showing the amount Trump said it was worth with the number highlighted. Then do the same with any banks he gave a higher value to on a loan application(s). Four pieces of paper per each time he lied. All that crap in the middle, and all the aruments Trump and his lawyers will try to justify the value he signed his name to as being accurate on the last page don’t matter. All that matters is the time frame/reporting period of tax bills/payments and loan applications being the same, and Trump telling tax authorities one thing and banks something else.
It really is that simple.
440 times he pled the 5th. The only question he answered was his name. Hey trumpers didn’t your boy claim anyone who pleads the 5th is a criminal in hiding? BINGO BONGO. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU DEPLORABLES?
The entitlement and arrogance of YOU and your kind. With your self appointed Higher Moral bullshit standing. We’re tired of all of YOU and will settle this in the streets so keep coming after all of us. Let the real winners write the history.
Every fucking one of you has been brain washed by the media and you never question it. Never before in your life have you seen CONSTANT Bullshit like this and not one fucking question. WHY? While your country is getting fucked by the shit you voted in? The streets will make you pay when it arrives. And the IT you caused will be bad for EVERYBODY. Except the real corrupt politicians that groomed all of you. For a while anyway. Then their time will be done when they did what they were used for. See Ya.
Ooh Mikey you’ve got me soooooooo scared. Of you and your “real” Mu-ick-uhns settling things in the streets. The thing is, people like most of us here aren’t the ones parading around with our GUNS (helpful tip, no matter how many you strap on, fondle, sleep with etc. your dick will never get even a tiny bit bigger) and often tactical gear threatening people. WE aren’t the ones trying to cosplay Seal Team Six while so often more accurately looking like MEAL Team Six! Here’s the thing though. Just because we aren’t out there waving our GUNS around like you and your ilk doesn’t mean we are wusses. I’m in my mid sixties now, and compared to my active duty days decades ago this ole jarhead is a broken down old fart. I’m not going to be out there looking for a fight any more than the MAJORITY of people in this country – sane people who understand fact from fiction/fantasy. But you motherfuckers (well, maybe not as so many of you whine about being INCEL – I see pics of you goobers at Trump events, the way you look/dress and act and can understand why most women won’t fuck you asshats) come for me you might “get” me but for damned sure I’ll be going to hell in a crowd. Because a crowd of you asswipes is what it will take. Maybe you served and maybe not. But this ole grunt can and would make quite a few of you sorry you came for me. But go ahead and spout your bullshit through your keyboard if it gives you a woody.