Former President Donald Trump found himself in court today, maintaining that he had not done anything improper, that the matter had already been investigated and that authorities “found nothing.”
On the advice of his attorneys, today Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment rights during his deposition, which was part of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil investigation.
Trump believes the new investigation is politically motivated, calling it an “unfounded politically motivated Witch Hunt.” Pointing to who is behind efforts to smear his name, Trump said the Biden administration and prosecutors across the nation have “lost all moral and ethical bounds of decency.”
Trump posted a strong rebuke of James in a series of posts on his Truth Social platform:
“What Letitia James has tried to do the last three years is a disgrace to the legal system, an affront to New York State taxpayers, and a violation of the solemn rights and protections afforded by the United States Constitution.”
Trump continued: “I did nothing wrong, which is why, after five years of looking, the Federal, State, and local governments, together with the Fake News Media, have found nothing. We cannot permit a renegade and out-of-control prosecutor to use this investigation as a means of advancing her political career. New York deserves better, and this Country deserves better. This is a vindictive and self-serving fishing expedition, the likes of which our Country has never seen before.”
Trump, never short on words, added:
“The United States Constitution exists for this very purpose, and I will utilize it to the fullest extent to defend myself against this malicious attack by this administration, this Attorney General’s Office, and all other attacks on my family, my business, and our Country.”
“I once asked, ‘If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?’ Now I know the answer to that question,” Trump continued. “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-a-Lago, on Monday by the FBI, just two days prior to this deposition, 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.”
Trump added: “Accordingly, under the advice of my counsel and for all of the above reasons, I declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution.”
James, who has been unusually tenacious in the matter, has charged, thus far without proof, that Trump’s financial filings on properties such as Trump’s Seven Springs estate in Westchester, 40 Wall Street, and his residence at Trump Tower were fraudulent.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is also conducting a criminal investigation focusing on possible bank, insurance and tax fraud.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
A video posted on Rumble Wednesday morning shows James with a supporter, saying, “Please sue [Trump] for us,” and James responding, “Oh we’re going to definitely sue him. We’re going to be a real pain in the a—.”
A Trump spokesperson rebuked James’s actions in the video, claiming she was “abusing the attorney general’s office to attack President Trump.”
The video highlights James’ political motivations as she says she “will never be afraid to challenge this illegitimate president.”
The video closes with a clip of James at a campaign stop saying: “This illegitimate president — I look forward to going into the office of the attorney general every day, suing him, and then going home.”
James’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Today’s court date is not related to Monday’s FBI raid on his Mar-a-Lago home.
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