Official Trump Lawsuit Watch Thread

[Tennesseer]

Trump asks court for absolute immunity from Jan. 6 lawsuits

Former President Donald Trump has asked a D.C. circuit court to rule that he has absolute immunity from civil suits related to the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol Building.

In a brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Wednesday, Trump's lawyers asked the court to reverse Judge Amit Mehta's February ruling that denied a motion to dismiss lawsuits related to the Capitol riot. The brief argues that Trump's speech at a "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan. 6 falls within the scope of speech protected by presidential absolute immunity. The former president is facing several lawsuits filed by congressional lawmakers and Capitol Police officers related to his actions on Jan. 6.

"President Trump is shielded by absolute presidential immunity because his statements were on matters of public concern," his attorneys argue in the brief, adding, "No amount of hyperbole about the violence of January 6, 2021, provides a basis for this Court to carve out an exception to the constitutional separation of powers."

Mehta ruled in February that Trump's Jan. 6 speech at the ellipse near the South Lawn of the White House, as the 2020 election was being certified by Congress, were likely “words of incitement not protected by the First Amendment."

Trump's legal team argues in Wednesday's filing that impeachment is the only means of punishing a president for abuse and that attempts by Democrats and others to sue Trump after he emerged victorious in his impeachment trial are tantamount to "harassment."

"A Democratic-controlled House of Representatives already brought impeachment charges against President Trump for allegedly inciting an insurrection on January 6, 2021. Their effort failed, and President Trump was acquitted. These further lawsuits are an attempt to thwart that acquittal, and it is just this type of harassment that presidential immunity is meant to foreclose," the brief states.

Trump's latest legal filing comes amid reports that the Department of Justice is investigating the former president as part of its larger criminal inquiry into efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Trump asks court for absolute immunity from Jan. 6 lawsuits

[djAdvocate]

Jul 28, 2022 12:47:50 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Trump asks court for absolute immunity from Jan. 6 lawsuits

Former President Donald Trump has asked a D.C. circuit court to rule that he has absolute immunity from civil suits related to the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol Building.

In a brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Wednesday, Trump's lawyers asked the court to reverse Judge Amit Mehta's February ruling that denied a motion to dismiss lawsuits related to the Capitol riot. The brief argues that Trump's speech at a "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan. 6 falls within the scope of speech protected by presidential absolute immunity. The former president is facing several lawsuits filed by congressional lawmakers and Capitol Police officers related to his actions on Jan. 6.

"President Trump is shielded by absolute presidential immunity because his statements were on matters of public concern," his attorneys argue in the brief, adding, "No amount of hyperbole about the violence of January 6, 2021, provides a basis for this Court to carve out an exception to the constitutional separation of powers."

Mehta ruled in February that Trump's Jan. 6 speech at the ellipse near the South Lawn of the White House, as the 2020 election was being certified by Congress, were likely “words of incitement not protected by the First Amendment."

Trump's legal team argues in Wednesday's filing that impeachment is the only means of punishing a president for abuse and that attempts by Democrats and others to sue Trump after he emerged victorious in his impeachment trial are tantamount to "harassment."

"A Democratic-controlled House of Representatives already brought impeachment charges against President Trump for allegedly inciting an insurrection on January 6, 2021. Their effort failed, and President Trump was acquitted. These further lawsuits are an attempt to thwart that acquittal, and it is just this type of harassment that presidential immunity is meant to foreclose," the brief states.

Trump's latest legal filing comes amid reports that the Department of Justice is investigating the former president as part of its larger criminal inquiry into efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Trump asks court for absolute immunity from Jan. 6 lawsuits

first of all, thanks for not saying Democrat-controlled.  kudos.

second, he was impeached.  ok?  just because the GOP stood in the way of that doesn't mean he wasn't impeached.

twice.

[djAdvocate]

PS- i guess EITHER:

a) he didn't pardon himself or
b) he is not at all sure that will hold up in court.

[Tennesseer]

Not a good day for Trump in the courts.

Judge dismisses Trump's 'immunity' claim in Jan. 6 lawsuits

A federal judge on Tuesday denied former President Donald Trump's bid to dismiss three lawsuits brought against him by police officers injured in the Jan. 6 riot, rejecting his assertion that he's "absolutely immune" from the claims.

Judge dismisses Trump's 'immunity' claim in Jan. 6 lawsuits

Trump Urges Judge to Toss Cohen Suit, Citing ‘Absolute Immunity’

(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump urged a judge to toss out a civil suit filed by his longtime lawyer Michael Cohen, who claims the former president tried to silence him before the 2020 election by extending his stint in prison for lying to Congress.

The US Justice Department, which represents former Attorney General William Barr and other government defendants in the suit, also sought dismissal of the case at a hearing Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan.

Cohen claims the former president and Barr rescinded his release to home confinement in the early days of the pandemic, forcing him to spend 16 days in solitary confinement, in retaliation for his plan to write a tell-all book.

Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba argued the former president can’t be sued because he was in office at the time of the alleged conduct.

“This is a very clean cut case where absolute immunity does apply,” Habba said.

Asked by the judge if a president would still be immune from a civil suit if he ordered his valet to kidnap a political opponent and hold them for two weeks before an election, Habba replied “absolutely not.” Immunity “doesn’t mean they can go around willy nilly committing crimes,” she said.

Trump Urges Judge to Toss Cohen Suit, Citing ‘Absolute Immunity’

[happyhoix]

Aug 2, 2022 20:00:39 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Not a good day for Trump in the courts.

Judge dismisses Trump's 'immunity' claim in Jan. 6 lawsuits

A federal judge on Tuesday denied former President Donald Trump's bid to dismiss three lawsuits brought against him by police officers injured in the Jan. 6 riot, rejecting his assertion that he's "absolutely immune" from the claims.

Judge dismisses Trump's 'immunity' claim in Jan. 6 lawsuits

Trump Urges Judge to Toss Cohen Suit, Citing ‘Absolute Immunity’

(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump urged a judge to toss out a civil suit filed by his longtime lawyer Michael Cohen, who claims the former president tried to silence him before the 2020 election by extending his stint in prison for lying to Congress.

The US Justice Department, which represents former Attorney General William Barr and other government defendants in the suit, also sought dismissal of the case at a hearing Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan.

Cohen claims the former president and Barr rescinded his release to home confinement in the early days of the pandemic, forcing him to spend 16 days in solitary confinement, in retaliation for his plan to write a tell-all book.

Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba argued the former president can’t be sued because he was in office at the time of the alleged conduct.

“This is a very clean cut case where absolute immunity does apply,” Habba said.

Asked by the judge if a president would still be immune from a civil suit if he ordered his valet to kidnap a political opponent and hold them for two weeks before an election, Habba replied “absolutely not.” Immunity “doesn’t mean they can go around willy nilly committing crimes,” she said.

Trump Urges Judge to Toss Cohen Suit, Citing ‘Absolute Immunity’

I remember when Cohen had to go back to jail (during Covid!!!) and I thought that was pure retaliatory bullshittery.

I’m not a Cohen fan but 100% not a fan of politicians using their power to get their pathetic, petty revenge on people who pissed them off.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 3, 2022 14:35:04 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Aug 2, 2022 20:00:39 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Not a good day for Trump in the courts.

Judge dismisses Trump's 'immunity' claim in Jan. 6 lawsuits


Trump Urges Judge to Toss Cohen Suit, Citing ‘Absolute Immunity’

I remember when Cohen had to go back to jail (during Covid!!!) and I thought that was pure retaliatory bullshittery.

I’m not a Cohen fan but 100% not a fan of politicians using their power to get their pathetic, petty revenge on people who pissed them off.

With trump, it's always about revenge.

[djAdvocate]

i was going to pick nits with that, but it seems like it is really all he has time and bandwidth for.   so.....yeah.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 3, 2022 19:42:21 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

i was going to pick nits with that, but it seems like it is really all he has time and bandwidth for.   so.....yeah.

I posted this on another thread. trump's typical behavior. And I did confirm that is an actual trump quote. I checked his Truth site and it's there.

[img src="" alt=" "]

[djAdvocate]

Tenn:

does the Alex Jones case open another avenue for suing Trump?

as the judge would have it, yes or no, please.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 4, 2022 12:05:31 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Tenn:

does the Alex Jones case open another avenue for suing Trump?

as the judge would have it, yes or no, please.

Sorry-got to go with maybe. Too soon.

It all depends on evidence presented and a grand jury ruling.

[djAdvocate]

booo!

[Tennesseer]

Looking for suckers again and he will find them.

Trump Begs Supporters For Donations Toward 'Upcoming' CNN Lawsuit

Former President Donald Trump asked supporters Friday in his online newsletter for donations toward his “impending” lawsuit against CNN for calling his claims of voter fraud regarding the 2020 presidential election “baseless,” according to The Daily Beast.

“I’m calling on my best and most dedicated supporters to add their names to stand with me in my impending lawsuit against fake news CNN,” wrote Trump. “Add your name immediately to show your support for my upcoming lawsuit against fake news CNN.”

The email concluded with a link to Trump’s online donation portal. The Republican National Committee (RNC) has warned Trump they would stop footing his legal bills if he declared his presidential candidacy for 2024, according to ABC News.

The RNC has paid nearly $2 million to companies that represent Trump since October 2021.

Trump’s fundraising request came after his attorneys hit CNN with a 282-page letter in July demanding the media network remove all uses of “the big lie” and “lying” from its coverage of his claims that the election was fraudulent.

Trump wrote in a July 27 statement that he “notified CNN of my intent to file a lawsuit over their repeated defamatory statements.”

Further pushing the defamation claims, Lindsey Halligan, a Florida lawyer for Trump, said on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast on July 29 that “the big lie” was a German phrase penned in a book by Adolf Hitler, Insider reported.

“CNN branded Trump as a liar, and referred to his questions regarding voter fraud as ‘the big lie,’ which is actually linked to Adolf Hitler,” Halligan said.

While the lawsuit has yet to materialize, Trump’s legal team claimed he “subjectively believes” the election was stolen. However, at this time, no evidence of voter fraud has been found.

Trump Begs Supporters For Donations Toward 'Upcoming' CNN Lawsuit

[Tiny]

Would this plead for money be grifting?   trump should be flush with cash and should be able to pay for this himself.  



According to this Forbes  video:   Donald Trump's Great Escape: How The Former President Solved His Debt Crisis | Forbes    

The day Donald Trump left the White House, his business was facing $900 million of debt coming due in the next four years. Working through those loans would have been a significant undertaking for any firm, but the Trump Organization was contending with additional challenges. Deutsche Bank, Trump’s longtime lender, was reportedly looking to end its relationship with the real estate mogul. Two other financial institutions, Signature Bank and Professional Bank, had spread the word that they were cutting ties in the wake of January 6, 2021. Meanwhile, the Manhattan district attorney was getting close to charging the Trump Organization with a series of financial crimes, including falsifying business records, conspiracy and fraud.

In the last 15 months, the Trump Organization—under indictment, with its founder characterizing the charges as part of a “political Witch Hunt by the Radical Left Demo­crats”—has managed to rework almost all $900 million of the debt it had coming due. Now, magically, he is flush with cash and free to deal— thanks to a little help from powerful friends.

Basically,  trump (and one of his real estate partners) refinanced some of their debt giving trump a cash boost.  And then someone paid a heck ton of money for one of trump's money loosing properties - which gave trump another boost in cash.     

 

[djAdvocate]

has enough money for another presidential run, now.

[Tennesseer]

Today's the day.

Live Updates: Trump to Be Questioned in New York Investigation

The former president’s long-sought testimony is a turning point in a civil investigation into his business practices. It is one of multiple active investigations that Mr. Trump is embroiled in.

Donald J. Trump will face questioning under oath from the New York attorney general’s office on Wednesday, a crucial turning point in a long-running civil investigation into his business practices.

The stakes for Mr. Trump are uncommonly high. While he has sat for numerous depositions over the years, he fought for months to avoid the testimony this week, which could shape the outcome of the investigation into the former president and his family real estate business, the Trump Organization.

The deposition comes at a legally perilous moment for Mr. Trump. Two days ago, while he was at his golf club in New Jersey, the F.B.I. searched his Florida home as part of an investigation into sensitive material that Mr. Trump took when he left the White House.

He has denied wrongdoing and lashed out at the F.B.I. search as “an assault” that “could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries.” He has also called the investigation by the New York attorney general, Letitia James, a politically motivated witch hunt.

He repeated his criticism on his Truth Social account. “In New York City tonight. Seeing racist N.Y.S. Attorney General tomorrow, for a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in U.S. history!” he wrote. “My great company, and myself, are being attacked from all sides. Banana Republic!”

Since March 2019, Ms. James’s lawyers, assembling an encyclopedic understanding of the Trump business, have scrutinized whether Mr. Trump and his company improperly inflated the value of his hotels, golf clubs and other assets.

Early this year, Ms. James said in a court filing that the company’s business practices were “fraudulent or misleading,” but added that her office needed to question Mr. Trump and two of his adult children to determine who was responsible for that conduct.

The deposition of Mr. Trump — which comes days after the attorney general’s office questioned Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. — represents the final stage of Ms. James’s investigation.

Because her investigation is civil, Ms. James can sue Mr. Trump but cannot file criminal charges. Still, the specter of criminal charges hangs over the deposition: The Manhattan district attorney’s office had been conducting a parallel criminal investigation into whether Mr. Trump fraudulently inflated valuations of his properties.

Rest of article here: Live Updates: Trump to Be Questioned in New York Investigation

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Lock him up!

[Tennesseer]

Shocked I tell ya.  SHOCKED!

CNN is reporting Trump exited from his sworn in deposition claiming he pled the 5th through out it.

Remember trump's opinion regarding the 5th Amendment?


“You see the mob takes the Fifth,” trump said. “If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?”

[djAdvocate]

this was for his Georgia shenanigans, right?

[swamp]

www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/10/trump-deposition-letitia-james/

NEW YORK — Former president Donald Trump arrived at the office of the New York attorney general Wednesday morning to give sworn testimony in a long-running civil probe of his business dealings, specifically his representations to lenders and tax agencies about the value of his assets.



In a lengthy statement, Trump denied wrongdoing, accused the U.S. government of unfairly targeting him and said he would refuse to answer questions, citing his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself.

[djAdvocate]

two part confession:

1) to say in public "only guilty people take the fifth".
2) to then take the fifth.

me?  i would use that in trial (as a prosecutor).
don't know what others would do.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 10, 2022 10:39:44 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

this was for his Georgia shenanigans, right?

trump and trump corporation's business practices in New York state.

[swamp]

Aug 10, 2022 11:38:00 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Aug 10, 2022 10:39:44 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

this was for his Georgia shenanigans, right?

trump and trump corporation's business practices in New York state.

I know, it's confusing, it's so hard to keep the crimes straight.  

[billisonboard]

Aug 10, 2022 10:47:06 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

two part confession:

1) to say in public "only guilty people take the fifth".
2) to then take the fifth.

me?  i would use that in trial (as a prosecutor).
don't know what others would do.

When an individual takes the Fifth, her silence or refusal to answer questions cannot be used against her in a criminal case.  A prosecutor cannot argue to the jury that the defendant’s silence implies guilt.  link

[pulmonarymd]

Civil case, rules are different. can be used to infer wrongdoing

[billisonboard]

Aug 10, 2022 12:08:17 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Civil case, rules are different. can be used to infer wrongdoing

confounds people on the 1st as well. Government, e.g prosecutors, shall not. Private entities, e.g. opposing attorneys, can.

[happyhoix]

Aug 10, 2022 11:38:00 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Aug 10, 2022 10:39:44 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

this was for his Georgia shenanigans, right?

trump and trump corporation's business practices in New York state.

I believe if involves that sweet sweet scam where Trump bought a large upstate estate in a peaceful serene setting and then tried to plant a bunch of McMansions on it and a hold club. The locals blocked it with zoning laws. Then Trump claimed some enormous tax benefit for not developing the pristine lots into McMansions - even though he was prohibited from doing that.

Quite the tax fraud triumph.

[djAdvocate]

Aug 10, 2022 11:58:45 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Aug 10, 2022 10:47:06 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

two part confession:

1) to say in public "only guilty people take the fifth".
2) to then take the fifth.

me?  i would use that in trial (as a prosecutor).
don't know what others would do.

When an individual takes the Fifth, her silence or refusal to answer questions cannot be used against her in a criminal case.  A prosecutor cannot argue to the jury that the defendant’s silence implies guilt.  link

i am aware of that.  but his statements ABOUT taking the fifth are well known.  i wouldn't say a word about it.  i would use his words.
but i guess that would be inadmissable.  i don't know.
i don't care.

[happyhoix]

Can’t post a link but raw story has a story about NY AG possibly filing a corporate death penalty for Trump Tower and all Trumps golf courses.

‘Fines and back taxes may be the least of what Trumps facing. James has signaled she will also seek the dissolution of the business itself under New York’s so called corporate death penalty- a law that allows the AG to seek to dissolve businesses that operate ‘in a persistently fraudulent or illegal manner.’

This is the same law that successfully shut down Trump University.

‘In a civil case the court can draw an interference of liability…. Pleading the the Fifth is effectively a confession.’

[Tennesseer]

Aug 11, 2022 8:51:34 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Can’t post a link but raw story has a story about NY AG possibly filing a corporate death penalty for Trump Tower and all Trumps golf courses.

‘Fines and back taxes may be the least of what Trumps facing. James has signaled she will also seek the dissolution of the business itself under New York’s so called corporate death penalty- a law that allows the AG to seek to dissolve businesses that operate ‘in a persistently fraudulent or illegal manner.’

This is the same law that successfully shut down Trump University.

‘In a civil case the court can draw an interference of liability…. Pleading the the Fifth is effectively a confession.’

NY AG may seek ‘corporate death penalty’ for Trump Tower — and all his golf courses: legal expert

[Tennesseer]

I see no downside of this.

FBI Will 'Storm' Stage, Arrest Trump on Live TV, Radio Host Predicts

Former President Donald Trump at some point will be arrested live on national television as a way to prevent him from becoming, or even running for, president again, conservative commentator Todd Starnes predicted Wednesday.

"Mark my words here: There will be a moment when President Trump is giving one of his big speeches somewhere and the FBI will storm the stage," Starnes said. "They will arrest the president on national television and drag him away. That's how all of this will end up."

Starnes made the prediction on his podcast in an episode titled Will Biden dispatch feds to arrest Trump supporters? and came following Monday's FBI search of Trump's Mar-A-Lago residence. His reasoning was that such a dramatic public display of federal power would dissuade many Americans from voting for Trump if he makes a 2024 presidential run, or legally make Trump unable to run for office altogether.

He and some Republican members of Congress, including Senator Rand Paul and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene have repeated Trump's claim that the FBI potentially "planted" evidence. They've argued it was possible due to a lack of on-scene witnesses—a claim that one former federal prosecutor said was indicative of admitting guilt and hiding the truth.

The "raid" was "meant to embarrass and humiliate" Trump, Starnes said.

Starnes also said Wednesday that "the federal government has been weaponized" to prevent another Trump White House, saying "Democrats are terrified" of his political viability.

Trump has not yet announced an official presidential campaign but has continuously teased about another run. In late July, he was asked by radio show hosts why he hadn't yet declared considering the likelihood he would have a rematch against President Joe Biden.

FBI Will 'Storm' Stage, Arrest Trump on Live TV, Radio Host Predicts