Adam Klasfeld Profile picture
Feb 17, 2022 10 tweets 3 min read Read on X
"Judge Refuses to Quash Subpoenas and Depositions for Donald Trump and His Children: It Would Be a 'Blatant Dereliction of Duty' Not to Investigate"

DEVELOPING story, with the 8-page ruling inside:
lawandcrime.com/high-profile/j… via @lawcrimene
This is an absolutely blistering ruling.

Some highlights once I give the story an update. In the meanwhile, give the order inside the story a read.
Earlier this morning, Trump's lawyers argued that the civil probe was essentially a way to extract information without having to offer immunity that a grand jury would afford in a criminal investigation.

Engoron: "This argument completely misses the mark."
Engoron:

Trump and his children have the "absolute right" to assert Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Eric Trump did it more than 500 times, he notes.
Justice Engoron:

Trump was "hardly a stranger" to the NYAG's office when Tish James took over.

Her predecessors reached significant settlements with Trump's "University" and "Foundation," the judge says—his scare quotes.
Engoron:

The thousands of documents responsive to the subpoenas that I've viewed privately show "significant basis" for continuing the investigation, undercutting notion that it's based on animus rather than facts and law.
Engoron:

"As has often been said, that a prosecutor dislikes someone does not prevent a prosecution."
Engoron:

It would have been "blatant dereliction of duty" not to investigate and issue subpoenas.
Engoron:

Trump's spin on Mazars ditching him is Orwellian, "audacious" and "preposterous."
Engoron:

NYAG found "copious evidence of possible financial fraud."

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Adam Klasfeld

Adam Klasfeld Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @KlasfeldReports

Jan 26
A hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET) on the state of Minnesota's request to halt the ICE surge in the Twin Cities.

I'm covering the proceedings remotely.

From the state's memo:

buff.ly/ub2bHsoThe balance of the equities tips sharply in Plaintiffs’ favor. Plaintiffs seek to protect their sovereignty as well as their residents’ health, welfare, and safety. Plaintiffs also seek to retain control over local law enforcement, education, and public safety. At bottom, Plaintiffs seek to protect fundamental principles of American federalism from Defendants’ unprecedented intrusion. The public is in no way benefited from such unlawful or unconstitutional activity and there is substantial public interest in “Americans trusting their own government to follow the rule of law.” ... On the oth...
From lawyers for the state and the Twin Cities.

"We need the Court to act to stop this Surge before yet another resident dies because of Operation Metro Surge." storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…Image
"All rise."

Judge Katherine M Menendez presiding.

The lawyers enter their appearances.
Read 68 tweets
Jan 21
Reps. Khanna and Massie:

The judges presiding over the Epstein and Maxwell dockets have "inherent authority" to appoint a special master to release the files, and Trump DOJ's actions show why.

Doc buff.ly/FMAEr5t

Background buff.ly/ZFi3a36

Key passage and quick threadIn apparent conflict with its argument that no court can enforce the Act, the Government has publicly blamed the Court for its failure to comply with the Act. The Government is proverbially speaking out both sides of its mouth and, in doing so, is attempting to use the Court in a manner that brings shame and disgrace to the vaunted criminal justice system in this country.
As more survivors join the fight for courts to appoint a "special master" overseeing the release of the Epstein files, the courts confront procedural hurdles.

One of the judges asked:

Who has standing for the request?

Do judges have the authority?

The new brief answers:
The Congressmen "do not require standing," the brief says.

Khanna and Massie are *amici* advising the judges of their inherent powers, which Trump's DOJ conceded by shifting blame for delays to the court in this press release dated two days after the deadline. Image
Image
Read 6 tweets
Jan 14
An emergency hearing is scheduled to begin shortly in @RepJoeNeguse v. ICE, challenging Kristi Noem reinstating a seven-day advanced notice policy for congressional visits to detention centers.

A federal judge blocked that policy last month.

Background buff.ly/r0Nr0YAImage
See for the linked article at the top of the thread for the breakdown on the legal issues.

Judge Cobb says that the issue before her today is which funds the government is using on ICE facilities: Section 527 or Trump's mammoth spending bill.
If they're using Section 527 funds, they're in violation of the judge's stay order.

Lawyers for the House Dems say it's clear that they are.
Read 6 tweets
Dec 18, 2025
Closing arguments are about to begin in the trial of Judge Hannah Dugan. I'm reporting live from the courtroom.

Catch up with my coverage of the defense case on All Rise News.

Follow along here buff.ly/yddYCRo
As always, the government's up first:

"On this first day in this courtroom, you took an oath: Just like the defendant did."

[...]

"What happens when someone with the highest duty to uphold the law decides that it doesn't apply to her?"
Prosecutor Kelly Brown Watzka:

"It undermines the entire justice system."

"Imagine what would happen if every judge decided which law to obey or follow."
Read 41 tweets
Dec 18, 2025
Good morning from Milwaukee.

After the government rested, Judge Dugan’s lawyers moved for an acquittal: A key prosecution witness testified that Dugan personally directed her and her client to where federal agents were waiting.

Recap, on All Rise News allrisenews.com/p/dugan-govern…Image
You can read the full defense motion for an acquittal here. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.usco…
"All rise."

The defense case is about to begin with witness testimony.

The jury is entering.
Read 27 tweets
Dec 17, 2025
Day Three of Judge Hannah Dugan’s trial has begun. Stay tuned for more coverage at All Rise News.

ICYMI, yesterday, a fellow judge in Dugan’s court testified against her. buff.ly/uTfZCOl

And so did a parade of law enforcement witnesses. buff.ly/Vcdf7M0 Image
Testifying now in the government's case:

Judge Carl Ashley, the chief judge of Milwaukee County Circuit Court

District 1

That's Judge Dugan's court
Judge Ashley reads an email submitted into evidence:

"Please be aware that ICE has taken at least two people into custody" in March and April.
Read 39 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(