Posted on 08/10/2022 7:37:09 AM PDT by Red Badger
Former President Trump said Wednesday that he refused to answer any questions from New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) in the civil investigation over his business.
Why it matters: The deposition comes as Trump has faced a new level of legal scrutiny and just days after the FBI executed a search warrant at the former president's Mar-a-Lago residence in an unrelated investigation.
What he's saying: "Under the advice of my counsel, ... I declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social account.
"I once asked, 'if you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?" Now I know the answer to that question," he also said. "When your family, your company and all the people in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded, politically motivated Witch Hunt ... you have no choice." Driving the news: Trump earlier on Wednesday said that he would face questioning Wednesday from the New York state attorney general's office in its civil investigation.
Trump said on his Truth Social account earlier on Wednesday that he would be seeing James "for a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in U.S. history! My great company, and myself, are being attacked from all sides. Banana Republic!"
State of play: James opened a civil investigation into the Trump organization's financial dealings earlier this year, alleging the company used "fraudulent and misleading asset valuations to obtain economic benefits."
Trump and two of his adult children, Donald Jr. and Ivanka, were scheduled to testify last month, but the office of New York's attorney general postponed the depositions after the death of Ivana Trump.
Trump has denied the allegations, saying that seeking the best valuations is a common practice in the real estate industry, AP reports.
The big picture: Wednesday's deposition comes as Trump is in the middle of numerous other legal battles, including the Justice Department's investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
The FBI investigation on Monday is likely related to documents Trump took from the White House that may have been classified, two sources familiar with the matter told Axios' Jonathan Swan. Go deeper... Judge lifts Trump's contempt order in New York civil investigation
Editor's note: This story has been updated with new details.
Deep state. Remember, nobody is above the law. Right? Hello? Bueller?
I once asked "If you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?" Now I know the answer to that question. When your family, your company, and all the people in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded, politically motivated Witch Hunt supported by lawyers, prosecutors, and the Fake News Media, you have no choice. If there was any question in my mind, the raid of my home, Mar Lago, on Monday, by the FBI, just two days prior to this disposition, wiped out any uncertainty. I have absolutely no choice because the current Administration, and many prosecutors in this Country have lost all moral and ethical bounds of decency.
“Iād more than fifth amendment. Iād so some serious ācanāt recallā.”
You plead the 5th
or
You make statements
You do not do both, unless you’re Lois Lerner of course.
Outside of anything required by law, after multiple appeals, tell or give them NOTHING!
“Q: Is this the part in the story when we play the tapes of the former President repeatedly saying in speech and in interviews that only people who plead the Fifth Amendment are guilty and are simply hiding the truth? He said it over and over and over for the last number of years and that cannot now be stricken from the record. This isnāt George Orwell and we arenāt suddenly saying he never said itā¦ (But Iād love to hear of the justifications way this is now okay)”
Hi JapaneseInTokyo,
š
Why answer any questions if it’s not a criminal case or even a civil case - but a “civil investigation over his business” - per this Axios article.
Best to not give them any ammo...................at all..............
I take it you have never been accused falsely of anything:
- under penalty of law;
- by international, corporate media in front of billions of people;
- but believe that the system of justice is all about truth.
I take it that:
- whatever set of values and principles you had at age 7 you have never been challenged by life experience making it unnecessary to modified or refine your position;
- if you had the choice between lying to escape or dying at the hands of madman, you would choose the latter because lying is always wrong;
- if your lawyer told you to take the 5th you would ignore advice of counsel;
- you form an opinion without reading Trump’s entire statement and ask a (fill in the blank) question which is answered in his statement because you are too (fill in the blank).
Have a nice evening.
Truth Social apparently doesn’t allow hot linking to images.
You almost do yourself any favors talking to the police. Ever.
Unless you’re Lois Lerner.
Wise move by PDJT.
I personal think this is hillarious, she wasted a year and countless dollars to drag Trump into a deposition, then he just walks in, pleads the fifth, and leaves.
Ms. James election and campaign statements demonstrate an intent to abuse her position to harass President Trump.
This isnāt how a lawful and civil society acts. This is low class, low IQ, hoodrat street thuggery.
Disturbing to see her campaigning and later, as AG. acting on a personal vendetta.
Her announcing she has nothing on Trump but is looking high and low for something......anything......is the height of stupidity.
Wise choice — he doesn’t want to end up with a conviction, as Roger Stone did.
https://mobile.twitter.com/shannonrwatts/status/1557377113631600641
But thatās what he said guilty mob members do. Plead the 5th.
The Fifth Amendment is his right as an America. The Idea was to make Trump say something that they can use against him—Anything. They want to make him look like a Mafia Don. Its time to pony up to these Progressive CCP/Soros backed enemies of the Republic and push back. At this point they could come up with “Evidence” Trump is responsible for every foul thing in World history and I will not believe it.
They just ransaked his house, Why should he answer one question.
PS: DeSantis is being good boy and staying out until '28.
He’s complained already about the raid. So I guess you’re saying he’s afraid of saying it under oath? But again, he said only the guilty plead the 5th.
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