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."

• • •

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More from @KlasfeldReports

May 16
Good morning from New York.

The first day of Michael Cohen's cross-ex began with a reminder that he called Trump's lead attorney Todd Blanche a "crying little s***."

Outside the jury's ear, the judge then scolded Blanche for "making this about yourself."

Day Two ahead 🧵
The Day One transcript reveals the sidebar discussion from after that explosive start.

Blanche pushed back: "I'm not making it about myself, your honor. I have a right to show this witness's bias, and he has expressed bias about the lawyers just because of who we represent."
Later, the judge responded: "It doesn't matter if he has bias towards you; it doesn't matter. The issue is whether he has bias towards the defendant."
Read 118 tweets
May 14
Good morning from New York.

"He approved it."

In three words, Michael Cohen tied Trump to this system of reimbursements—in a blink-and-you-might-miss-it line dropped just before trial adjourned.

Follow Trump's team likely attempting to undermine it on cross today. 🧵 Image
Why is that important?

Team Trump claimed that the former president never even heard of Cohen's reimbursements, let alone approved them, and they were all legal fees.

The jury has heard that defense line—and seen it contradicted repeatedly, including by Trump's own words.
If Trump claims there's nothing wrong with approving Cohen's reimbursements, jurors may find themselves wondering:

Why is Trump's defense running away from them, even though he's on record in a tweet and sworn court documents giving them the green light?
Read 128 tweets
May 13
Good morning from New York.

On Friday, the jury heard this Trump tweet recited into the record—about his "reimbursement" to Michael Cohen for "a non-disclosure agreement."

Trump's attorney denied the reimbursement when trial began.

Soon, Cohen is expected to testify.🧵 Image
During opening statements, prosecutor Matthew Colangelo promised jurors Cohen's account would be backed up by an "extensive paper trail of bank records, emails, text messages, phone logs, business documents and other records."
Colangelo also told jurors when trial began that Cohen's account would be corroborated by other witness testimony, along with Trump's books, speeches, and social media posts.
Read 177 tweets
May 10
Good morning from New York.

Stormy Daniels finished her testimony. Karen McDougal's off the witness list, and on Thursday, trial proceedings wrapped with Madeleine Westerhout still on the stand.

I'm inside the courtroom, today and every day, picking up where we left off. 🧵
Explanation on McDougal, for those who missed the end of proceedings yesterday:

Without explanation, Trump's lead attorney Todd Blanche said prosecutors informed him they won't be calling her. The payoff to McDougal isn't directly tied to the 34 falsifying records charges.
Trump enters the courtroom, flanked by his lawyers.
Read 57 tweets
May 9
Good morning from New York.

As Stormy Daniels gears up for her second day on the witness stand, Trump's lawyer continues cross-ex—and the judge will likely maintain his close watch of the guardrails.

What the judge is looking for, @Just_Security justsecurity.org/95541/stormy-d…
"All rise."

Justice Merchan enters, and Assistant DA Susan Hoffinger tells him that the defense wants to confront Stormy Daniels with an arrest record, over an accusation by her ex-husband.

The claim was thrown out, she notes.
Justice Merchan won't let it come in, noting that anyone can be accused of — or arrested for — something.

"It's not probative of everything," he says.
Read 188 tweets
May 7
Good morning from New York.

It's a sunny and temperate morning outside the lower Manhattan courthouse for Trump's criminal trial, but reportedly, we're in for a Stormy day in court, Daniels' attorney told the AP.

Follow along here. 🧵
Note:

Trump isn't getting advanced notice of witnesses because of his gag order violations. Apparently, this is his reaction after learning about what reportedly is a significant one on deck.
Trump's Truth Social post, seen and captured by multiple journalists, appears to have been deleted.
Read 155 tweets

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