# NY AG Letitia James drops the (civil) hammer {On Trump & Family} \[9/21/2022\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [September 21, 2022, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991 "2022-09-21T16:13:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 38
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/742 "2023-10-20T17:18:05Z")
remember the days of old when friday was a slow news day? i believe trump is in big trouble with this one. i’m thinking big fine first, then possible time in the pokey. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/743 "2023-10-20T17:18:33Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > This impresses me as a reasonable and entirely appropriate response. Agreed. So, let’s not do that 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/744 "2023-10-20T17:52:52Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > This impresses me as a reasonable and entirely appropriate response. Thanks! I actually think I’d prefer this to jail time. Jail time would equal enormous fundraising potential for Trump and drive home just how exactly much like Jesus he is. Forcing him in court to admit he fucked up, and forcing him to explain it, and to confirm that he was apologizing to the court for fucking up–none of that would be great for fundraising, and footage (or quotes) from his groveling and admission of error could be used to undermine his bloviations. Or, if he refused to grovel, then his lawyers could be grilled: why did they claim they were apologizing on his behalf? Are they actually representing their client faithfully? And Trump could be asked the same question, as he was being remanded to custody. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/745 "2023-10-20T17:55:38Z")
Right. Plus, it gives the judge the opportunity to say, “Was this unclear? What don’t you understand?” And set out further why this was entirely appropriate - insulating against future appeal and easing the way for progressive responses to the inevitable future violations. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/746 "2023-10-20T17:57:23Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I don’t know if the judge could do it, but if he could call Trump to explain in open court how this incident occurred, and to verify whether his attorney’s apology on his behalf was sincere, and to ask him to explain what steps he planned to take to prevent a recurrence, I’d accept that as the first consequence Yes. Just allow Trump to talk and talk and talk until he talks himself into even more trouble. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/747 "2023-10-20T19:14:24Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Judge Engoron strikes me as the sort of judge who has the courage to Go There. … I get the same vibe. Fingers crossed because it can’t hurt. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2023, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/748 "2023-10-20T19:17:36Z")
I’ll cross mine, too. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/749 "2023-10-20T19:46:41Z")
Judge Engoron gives Trump a symbolic $5000 fine, and accompanied that with a rather stern warning: > “Make no mistake: future violations, **whether intentional or unintentional,** will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions, which may include, but are not limited to, steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of court, **and possibly imprisoning him.** ” Bolding mine ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/750 "2023-10-20T19:50:10Z")
yep, progressive discipline, to rebut any appeal that the judge is biased, and taking into account that it is hard to scrub the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/751 "2023-10-20T20:15:05Z")
Apparently Cohen is going to testify on Tuesday. This will be perhaps very important testimony, since I understand that it was Cohen’s congressional testimony that Trump inflated the value of his properties that started the ball rolling for James on this particular lawsuit. ---
**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:** [October 20, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/752 "2023-10-20T20:18:14Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > A weekend in jail and no golf would be a good start. That would be schadenfreudey but hitting him in the pocketbook would hurt more – no mugging the camera and claims of, “I’m going to jail for _you!_” to his base. Of course, being a multi-billionaire, 7 or 8 figures would be about right to make it hurt. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/753 "2023-10-20T20:32:34Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > 7 or 8 figures would be about right to make it hurt. Three days of fundraising, max. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/754 "2023-10-20T22:11:57Z")
Don Jr: Hold my beer… > ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/755 "2023-10-20T22:14:24Z")
A weekend in jail would involve him surrendering again and a “Never Surrender Twice!” mugshot t-shirt. I might even buy one. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/756 "2023-10-20T22:15:04Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Don Jr: > > Hold my beer… But I think the gag order only applies to attacks on court staff, not the judge. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/757 "2023-10-20T22:19:08Z")
To quote the article: > [@](#): > > The offending article at issue reposted by Don Jr. defames Judge Engoron and MeidasTouch and states that MeidasTouch is a PAC when it is not. > > But more significantly, with respect to violations of the gag order, the article that Don Jr. posted restated the false and defamatory allegations about Judge Engoron’s principal law clerk. Specifically, the article Don Jr. posted states: "Trump highlighted Engoron’s staff’s relationship with Senator Chuck Schumer. The unprecedented incident underscores the partisan nature of the trial against Trump… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/758 "2023-10-20T22:20:32Z")
Beat me to it, but yep. I could believe that Don Jr. didn’t actually read the whole article and thought he was playing it safe by only attacking the judge, but today’s order specifically mentions unintentional violations of the gag order. So I think he’s screwed. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/759 "2023-10-20T22:26:26Z")
I anticipate an appearance by Don Jr on Monday in Judge Engoran’s courtroom. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/760 "2023-10-20T22:44:27Z")
Seriously! Is the right to silence that difficult? I’m surprised that the lawyers have hair left to tear out. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/761 "2023-10-20T22:46:12Z")
I think it’s been said that the Trumps have the _right_ to keep their mouths shut. They just don’t have the _ability_ to keep their mouths shut. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=39)