# DOJ Trying to take over Trump defamation lawsuit **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 9, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171 "2020-09-09T14:38:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/21 "2020-09-11T15:28:48Z")
> [@Skunkdog](#): > > The court already refused Trump’s request to have the case dismissed. This is just a stall tactic to avoid having to hand over documents and a DNA sample to the plaintiff’s lawyers before the election. Yeah, I get that. It’s totally in character for Trump to pull any and all shenanigans to delay, stall, impede, and otherwise prevent legal actions against him from proceeding. What’s infuriating is the DOJ going along with this abuse of power, enabling it. Barr is an unmitigated toady. Any credence he had as a respectable attorney is long gone. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/22 "2020-09-11T15:30:22Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Barr is an unmitigated toady. Any credence he had as a respectable attorney is long gone. - I’m looking forward to his disBarrment. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/23 "2020-09-11T15:57:09Z")
He is certainly not the respectable, capable, Establishment Republican AG he was for GHWB. I just can’t figure out why he’s doing this. He _has_ to know he’s destroying his reputation and that history will not treat him kindly. Maybe the lure of power, and of a late-career return to the center of the action once more, was just too much for him. ---
**Author:** ![Skunkdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@Skunkdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skunkdog)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/24 "2020-09-11T16:13:16Z")
Let’s not forget that he also has a strange tangential connection to Jeffery Epstein himself. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/25 "2020-09-11T16:16:30Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I just can’t figure out why he’s doing this. He is working feverishly behind the scenes to advance his fundamentalist Catholic agenda. Here is an older article that touches on it: > **['A threat to democracy': William Barr's speech on religious freedom alarms...](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/19/william-barr-attorney-general-catholic-conservative-speech)** > > Attorney general’s recent address at Notre Dame is a ‘dog whistle’ to conservatives who have aligned themselves with Trump Barr does not respect our separation of church and state. He has made many changes to blur the line. It’s his life’s work. He’s happy to use Trump to accomplish it. ETA: Here’s a more recent article. > **[Bill Barr, warrior for theocracy: Why didn't we know this until now?](https://www.salon.com/2020/01/03/bill-barr-warrior-for-theocracy-why-didnt-we-know-this-until-now/)** > > The attorney general has gradually revealed his terrifying agenda: Who knew, and why was this concealed so long? ---
**Author:** ![Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/26 "2020-09-14T15:00:02Z")
I’m in two minds about this. Are we okay next year with conservatives filling thousands of law suits against President Biden which he has to defend personally? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/27 "2020-09-14T15:19:38Z")
Lawsuits against the President of the United States for his official acts have always been defended by the DOJ. This is a lawsuit against Donald Trump for alleged pre-White House misconduct. It would be unprecedented for the DOJ to represent him - or any of his predecessors - in such a case. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2020, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/28 "2020-09-14T15:37:37Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > reminds me of Louis XIV of France who said “I am the state” Sounds more elegant as _l’état, c’est moi_. > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Although to be honest, the 200 year old corpse of Louis the XIV would probably do better than Louis the XIV in his prime (who would still be better than Trump) Actually, he is generally [highly regarded](https://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/people_n2/persons6_n2/louis.html). > His many foreign wars became a financial burden, yet his long reign is associated with the greatest age of French culture, symbolized by the Palace of Versailles. All we got from Donald I is an ugly wall, and only five miles of that. It was Louis XVI who ran into trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2020, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/29 "2020-09-14T15:42:13Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > This is a lawsuit against Donald Trump for alleged pre-White House misconduct. No. In this lawsuit she isn’t suing him for rape, she’s suing him for libel. The supposedly libelous statement was made by Trump while in office. And note, much as I loathe Trump, he’s innocent of rape until proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt, and hasn’t committed libel until proved to a preponderance of the evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2020, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/30 "2020-09-14T15:59:53Z")
Ah, thanks. I misremembered. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/31 "2020-09-14T16:17:20Z")
I don’t know, Louis XVI inherited his grandfather’s debts, a case can be made that after Louis XIV there was no way of saving France. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/32 "2020-09-14T22:07:27Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Actually, he is generally [highly regarded](https://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/people_n2/persons6_n2/louis.html). Ok, I admit that I know next to nothing about French history, and can’t keep my Louis’ straight. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/33 "2020-09-15T01:02:57Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Ok, I admit that I know next to nothing about French history, and can’t keep my Louis’ straight Here: Allan Sherman offers a history lesson on the Louitic Dynasty, focusing in particular on Lou-16: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohom8t0O-bg) > [@Allan Sherman](#): > > Louie the Sixteenth was the King of France in 1789. He was worse than Louie the Fifteenth. He was worse than Louie the Fourteenth. He was worse than Louie the Thirteenth. He was the worst since Louie the First. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/34 "2020-09-15T16:29:20Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Ok, I admit that I know next to nothing about French history, and can’t keep my Louis’ straight. It’s 'cause they use those roman numerals instead of real ones. XIV, XVI, they’re easy to confuse. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/35 "2020-09-15T16:46:29Z")
Ok, I will admit to a board sin here. I heard the headline but not the details on tv, and linked to an article without reading it. My bad. Looking more closely, this isn’t as bad as I thought. He did make the statement during a press conference when asked about her accusations by the press. That does kinda make it an official act. So was he just defending himself as Donald J. Trump from an accusation about acts prior to him becoming President, or was he defending himself as Predident against an accusation made against him as such? I suppose a parallel case is when President Clinton said, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” Except not only was he President during the comment, he was defending himself from actions taken during his term in office, for actions that took place in and around the White House. They weren’t official actions. What did the DOJ do then? And I see that Trump’s DOJ acted to try to keep the Clinton grand jury info secret. Seems a bit self-serving, trying to create precedents that might apply to him later. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/36 "2020-09-15T17:13:42Z")
Clinton had private counsel, while President, as to the various civil lawsuits he was facing, and as to his impeachment trial in the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/37 "2020-10-27T14:58:04Z")
> **[Judge denies DOJ effort to end E. Jean Carroll defamation suit against Trump...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/27/politics/e-jean-carroll-defamation-lawsuit-trump/index.html)** > > A federal judge on Tuesday denied the Justice Department's effort to effectively end a defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump brought by a longtime magazine columnist who has alleged he raped her in a luxury department store dressing room,... So this brilliant delaying tactic only succeeded in putting the words “Trump” and “Rape” front and center in the headlines one week before the election. Thank God, American authoritarians are so incompetent. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2020, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/38 "2020-10-28T09:12:33Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Thank God, American authoritarians are so incompetent. Srsly. But the next one might not be. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/39 "2020-10-28T16:41:16Z")
Yes. The fate of the republic should not depend upon the incompetence of a would-be tyrant. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171/40 "2020-10-28T16:45:36Z")
Of course, we may still see how craven any Trump appointed appellate judges/justices will be… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doj-trying-to-take-over-trump-defamation-lawsuit/920171.md?page=1)