Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Persecution of Donald Trump Means Turning Ordinary Activities Into Crimes
American Thinker ^ | 25 Feb, 2024 | Vince Coyner

Posted on 02/25/2024 4:53:35 AM PST by MtnClimber

Like millions of Americans before me, I’ve done exactly what Donald Trump did; namely, sought a loan based upon my best estimate of what my property was worth—and I didn’t look to what the tax assessor said in reaching that value. However, as part of the Democrats’ lawfare, Letitia James twisted a perfectly ordinary act into something evil, and a partisan judge put his imprimatur on her efforts. If it’s allowed to stand, the results will be devastating, not just for the political class but also for normal Americans.

In December 2020, I had to put my home on the market and move 1,000 miles away. Two months before, I’d considered refinancing my mortgage, and the bank gave me a valuation of $285,000. I thought it probably should have been higher, but didn’t really feel like taking the time to investigate because I wasn’t really that worried about it.

That changed in December when I was forced to worry about it. So, I reached out to a realtor friend (an actual realtor, not a guy with a side gig) and asked him to give me an estimate. He thought the house would probably sell for about $305,000, maybe $315,000 tops. Again, I was skeptical, so I started doing my own research. I looked at my community, what was available in my county, and what comparable houses were selling for. I also took note of the neighborhoods, roadways, schools, etc. After all of that, I estimated my house was worth about $400,000. I thought it could sell for $415,000 or even a bit more.

We put it on the market at $405,000 and, ten days later, it was sold with the buyers offering $395,000. We eventually settled for $400,000. I was confident it could have sold for more...

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: communism; harassment; lawfare; persecution; trump; trumppersecution
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-108 next last
To: kiryandil

Good post and more proof that joesbucks deserves the ZOT.


61 posted on 02/25/2024 9:57:17 AM PST by ohioman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: FlingWingFlyer; Liz; MtnClimber
LeticiaLitigious James
62 posted on 02/25/2024 10:57:25 AM PST by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Re-imagine the media!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: joesbucks
Maybe you have been listening to TDS arguments. What happens when a borrower does not repay a loan? Hello? Does the lender (or the lender's agent) consider selling the property? Do you believe that if you kill the golden goose the government will buy you a new one?
63 posted on 02/25/2024 11:15:09 AM PST by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Re-imagine the media!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Dutch Boy

I am looking at my 2023 statement from my county’s assessor office. My 1800 sq ft house and 4 1/2 acres of land are ‘officially assessed’ at $19,280. I paid $68,000 for it in 1975 and Zillow now estimates I could sell it for $225,000. So according to the NY judge, my house is only worth less than $20,000 and should I take out a loan based on its real market value, I’m committing a serious crime.


64 posted on 02/25/2024 11:21:49 AM PST by hanamizu ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Boardwalk
That’s Hunter. What about Ivanka and her China deals? What about the former President and his China deals? “I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower,” Trump said in his 2015 speech announcing his first run for president. “People say, ‘Oh, you don’t like China?’ No, I love them. But their leaders are much smarter than our leaders.”

A few years later he was praising smart lead Xi for containing the COVID virus spread. https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1ZN2IK/

65 posted on 02/25/2024 11:25:05 AM PST by joesbucks (It's called love-bombing. Claiming he's saving the world. This is a cult. Just back away. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Liz
He looks like Charlie Kirk.

-PJ

66 posted on 02/25/2024 11:36:15 AM PST by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber
I believe the fine against President Trump is illegal under New York state finance law.

Bear with my on this long post as I weave through the law that was used against Trump.

I'll start by posting the exact law in question:

SECTION 63 General duties

12. Whenever any person shall engage in repeated fraudulent or illegal acts or otherwise demonstrate persistent fraud or illegality in the carrying on, conducting or transaction of business, the attorney general may apply, in the name of the people of the state of New York, to the supreme court of the state of New York, on notice of five days, for an order enjoining the continuance of such business activity or of any fraudulent or illegal acts, directing restitution and damages and, in an appropriate case, cancelling any certificate filed under and by virtue of the provisions of section four hundred forty of the former penal law or section one hundred thirty of the general business law, and the court may award the relief applied for or so much thereof as it may deem proper. The word "fraud" or "fraudulent" as used herein shall include any device, scheme or artifice to defraud and any deception, misrepresentation, concealment, suppression, false pretense, false promise or unconscionable contractual provisions. The term "persistent fraud" or "illegality" as used herein shall include continuance or carrying on of any fraudulent or illegal act or conduct. The term "repeated" as used herein shall include repetition of any separate and distinct fraudulent or illegal act, or conduct which affects more than one person. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, all monies recovered or obtained under this subdivision by a state agency or state official or employee acting in their official capacity shall be subject to subdivision eleven of section four of the state finance law.

In connection with any such application, the attorney general is authorized to take proof and make a determination of the relevant facts and to issue subpoenas in accordance with the civil practice law and rules. Such authorization shall not abate or terminate by reason of any action or proceeding brought by the attorney general under this section.

I bolded what I believe is the relevant phrases to this debate around this case.

  1. As I understand it, this law is a consumer protection law intended to protect the people from predatory scammers (e.g., phone scams, "found money" scams, IRS scams, computer lockout scams, false warranty scams, false billings scams, etc.). It was never intended to be interpreted to apply to negotiations between two business entities.

    That is why there is language about "in the name of the people," "restitution and damages," "award the relief," "schemes, deceptions, false representations," and most importantly " repetition of any separate and distinct fraudulent or illegal act, or conduct which affects more than one person." This would clearly indicate that the law was targeted to phone bank operations, door-to-door scammers, etc., who run the same scheme on person after person after person.

    We used to call them "flimflam artists."

  2. Regarding its application to the Trump businesses and his bankers, the law refers to "restitution and damages." Obviously, one would have to identify the damages, and determine who are the damaged parties to get restitution.

    For this law to apply to Trump, the meaning of the law would have to be turned upside-down: Trump becomes the predator, the banks become the scammed, and there has to be a pattern of repeated schemes to damage multiple banks via fraudulent misrepresentations. In order to accomplish this, it would have to be proven that:

    1. Trump was performing a "scheme" on the banks and was not following accepted business practices relevant to the industry or business sector.

    2. The banks were, in fact, scammed into losing money.

    3. The banks can identify the amount of damage and can be made whole via restitution.

  3. Regarding "directing restitution and damages," the law references all monies "shall be subject to subdivision eleven of section four of the state finance law." Let's take a look at the referenced section.

    11. (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary and except as provided by paragraph (b) of this subdivision, no state agency or a state official or employee acting in their official capacity, may pay out or otherwise disburse funds obtained as the result of a judgment, stipulation, decree, agreement to settle, assurance of discontinuance, or other legal instrument resolving any claim or cause of action, whether filed or unfiled, actual or potential, and whether arising under common law, equity, or any provision of law, except pursuant to an appropriation. Such funds shall not be retained by any state official, employee, or agency in any fund held in the sole custody of a state agency for a period of more than thirty days but shall, consistent with section seven of article seven of the state constitution be deposited in the state treasury, or fund under its management as may be directed by statute or as otherwise directed by the comptroller with the concurrence of the director of the budget.

    (b) Paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall not apply to (1) moneys to be distributed to the federal government, to a local government, or to any holder of a bond or other debt instrument issued by the state, any public authority, or any public benefit corporation; (2) moneys to be distributed solely or exclusively as a payment of damages or restitution to individuals or entities that were specifically injured or harmed by the defendant's or settling party's conduct and that are identified in, or can be identified by the terms of, the relevant judgment, agreement to settle, assurance of discontinuance, or relevant instrument resolving the claim or cause of action;

    [skip]

As a consumer protection law, paragraph (b) of subdivision eleven of section four requires that the judgement against Trump must be distributed as "payment of damages or restitution to individuals or entities that were specifically injured or harmed" as stated in 63(12) above. Who are these people? Has Letitia James identified who receives the restitution from the $350 million judgement?

If James cannot identify the recipients of the judgement, it is because the law was misapplied and twisted into unrecognizability. I would argue that the fine of $350 million violates New York state law because subdivision eleven of section four of the state finance law prohibits the Attorney General from using this money for any other purpose than as restitution as a result of this judgement.

-PJ

67 posted on 02/25/2024 11:41:56 AM PST by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Political Junkie Too

Good guess.

68 posted on 02/25/2024 11:51:22 AM PST by Liz (Political correctness is tyranny with manners. Charlton Heston.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Liz
It's the hairline.

-PJ

69 posted on 02/25/2024 11:54:24 AM PST by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: Political Junkie Too

Nice work.


70 posted on 02/25/2024 11:59:51 AM PST by nomorelurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: joesbucks; Boardwalk
What about Ivanka and her China deals? What about the former President and his China deals?

Nice deflection from the real crooks, joesbucks.

71 posted on 02/25/2024 12:00:07 PM PST by kiryandil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: joesbucks

Projection and deflection. No one likes you BTW. People are emailing me about what a douche you are.


72 posted on 02/25/2024 12:04:12 PM PST by Boardwalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Boardwalk
They just want to break up your monopoly on luxury real estate and make you take the short line directly to jail.

-PJ

73 posted on 02/25/2024 12:12:25 PM PST by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas

It’s against the law to misrepresent values. If you go through the decision, you’ll find many instances where the property was appraised by a professional appraiser but a Trump estimate was ultimately used.


74 posted on 02/25/2024 12:28:54 PM PST by joesbucks (It's called love-bombing. Claiming he's saving the world. This is a cult. Just back away. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: joesbucks

Ok for the sake of argument...All progressives can lie by repeating the lie countless times or if you actually believe it is a not a lie?


75 posted on 02/25/2024 12:40:57 PM PST by Boardwalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: joesbucks

According to Engoron? I am not going to confuse his opinion with truth.


76 posted on 02/25/2024 12:53:28 PM PST by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Re-imagine the media!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: Boardwalk
Jonathon Turley: Drawing new businesses to the city is going to be about as easy as selling country estates during the French Revolution.
77 posted on 02/25/2024 1:04:48 PM PST by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Re-imagine the media!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Thanks for posting this terrific article. I just read American Thinker and was about to post it too. American Thinker is a very smart site.

My daughter just bought a new home and sold her old one, in escrow now. I can only imagine what a hassle it would have been for her if her valuation was challenged or declared illegal.


78 posted on 02/25/2024 1:18:43 PM PST by Veto! (FJB Sucks Rocks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas

According to testimony.


79 posted on 02/25/2024 1:48:11 PM PST by joesbucks (It's called love-bombing. Claiming he's saving the world. This is a cult. Just back away. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: Boardwalk

Read the transcripts.


80 posted on 02/25/2024 1:49:02 PM PST by joesbucks (It's called love-bombing. Claiming he's saving the world. This is a cult. Just back away. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-108 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson