A week of legal setbacks for Trump in D.C., N.Y.
Ex-President Donald Trump lost court battles this week as a judge ruled he must be deposed in New York to answer questions about his business, his accounting firm declared his financial statements unreliable, a judge rejected Trump’s effort to dismiss lawsuits against him and the National Archives confirmed he took classified information to Florida as he left the White House.
National Archives says Trump took classified docs to Mar-a-Lago
In a Friday letter, the National Archives and Records Administration confirmed that classified information was found in 15 boxes of White House records Trump took with him to Mar-a-Lago and turned over last month.
The National Archives “identified items marked as classified national security information within the boxes” and “has been in communication with the Department of Justice,” they wrote in a letter House Committee on Oversight and Reform. The Archives confirmed it got paper records that had been torn up by Trump — some taped together and others left in pieces — and White House staff conducted official business using personal accounts.
While federal law bars removal of classified documents to unauthorized locations, the Justice Department and FBI have not indicated they will pursue.
David Laufman, ex-head of the Justice Department counterintelligence who led investigation of Hillary
Clinton for her use of a private email server as secretary of state, tweeted,
“Even if DOJ ultimately forgoes criminal charges, an investigation is clearly warranted.”
While the Presidential Records Act that oversees the preservation of a president’s documents is widely seen to have little enforcement mechanism, David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor, said: “Taking classified documents is an entirely different ball of wax. As we’ve seen in the past, those are what result in charges being filed.”
The revelation also exposes Trump to charges of hypocrisy given his relentless attacks on Clinton, his Democratic opponent in the 2016 campaign.
In a statement Friday night, Trump said, “The National Archives did not ‘find’ anything, they were given, upon request, Presidential Records in an ordinary and routine process.”
Judge refuses to toss lawsuits against Trump over Jan. 6 attack
A federal judge in Washington, D.C. Friday rejected Trump’s efforts to dismiss suits filed by Democratic lawmakers and police
accusing him of being personally liable for the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta said Trump’s words at a rally held before the attack were likely “words of incitement not protected by the First Amendment” and “plausibly” led to what happened.
Trump told supporters “Fight like hell” and warned if they didn’t, “you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
“Only in the most extraordinary circumstances could a court not recognize that the First Amendment protects a President’s speech,” Mehta wrote. “But the court believes this is that case.”
The plaintiffs are seeking financial damages for the physical and emotional injuries they sustained during the insurrection.
Judge says Trump, Don Jr., Ivanka must testify in lawsuit over business
Thursday, a New York judge ruled that Trump must answer questions under oath in the state civil probe into his business.
Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump and his two eldest children, Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr., to comply with subpoenas issued by New York Attorney General Letitia James within 21 days. James’s lawyers said they have evidence that Trump’s company used “fraudulent or misleading” valuations of his golf courses, skyscrapers and properties to get loans and tax benefits.
Trump’s lawyers had argued his testimony could be used against him in the criminal investigation into the Trump Organization and its former CFO that’s overseen by the Manhattan district attorney.
The ruling is certain to be appealed by Trump’s lawyers. But if upheld, it could force him to decide whether to answer questions, perjuring himself if he lies, or stay silent, citing the Fifth Amendment— something he criticizes others for doing .
Trump’s accounting firm says his financial
statements not reliable
In a letter made public in a court filing Monday, the accounting firm that prepared Trump’s annual financial statements said the documents “should no longer be relied upon.” The firm cut ties with Trump.
Thursday, a judge said she would allow the longtime CFO at Trump’s company to sit for a limited deposition for a lawsuit by the District of Columbia AG accusing Trump’s inaugural committee of grossly overspending at Trump’s D.C. hotel to enrich the Trumps and misusing nonprofit funds.
The Manhattan district attorney’ already charged the Trump Organization with tax fraud, alleging Trump collected more than $1.7 million in off-thebooks payments.
Wednesday, President Joe Biden ordered Trump White House visitor logs go to the House committee investigating Jan. 6, rejecting Trump’s executive privilege claims.