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."
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Trump’s appeal of a federal judge’s ruling finding his federalization of the National Guard illegal heads to court minutes from now (noon Pacific Time).
Follow along for analysis, and watch live on the court’s YouTube page.
BREAKING: Trump admin must process education grants "without delay"
A federal judge preserved his ability to enforce the ruling even if the Senate passes a budget bill restraining his contempt power. @AllRiseNews allrisenews.com/p/linda-mcmaho…
A quick thread on this:
This is the first time I personally have seen a court proactively address the possibility of Congress restraining the enforcement power of the federal judiciary.
(There are a lot of cases out there, and perhaps it's come up elsewhere.)
Here's how it went down:
Assistant NYAG Andrew Amer brought up the restraints on contempt power included in the budget bill toward the end of the hearing.
Prosecutors immediately show her a still frame of the surveillance video from the hotel.
Q: Who introduced you to the term "freak off"?
A: Sean did.
Asked what a "freak off" is, Cassie responds: "It basically entails hiring of an escort (deep exhale) setting up this experience so that I could perform for Sean."