# 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:** 55
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1082 "2023-11-06T18:02:45Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Well, except for the fact that they aren’t really airing the game. The Superbowl is happening inside a closed stadium with no cameras and they have the color commentators sitting at a desk miles away. It’s still apt though. Imagine _if_ the Super Bowl wasn’t televised, and you only had people talking about what was happening. Folks would still be riveted because they really want to know what’s happening. This trial is unprecedented and people are paying attention for a reason. CNN knows this. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1083 "2023-11-06T18:05:16Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > msnbc is going in on the political side. What does this mean? ---
**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:** [November 6, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1084 "2023-11-06T18:07:27Z")
ah, so, the question was the "the ag’s office said “the statements are false and misleading do you disagree with that?” that is when trump lost his cool and went after the ag and the judge. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2023, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1085 "2023-11-06T18:08:42Z")
they are talking about the polls and had steve with his big board showing numbers and electoral college implications. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1086 "2023-11-06T18:16:30Z")
NBC is saying Trump had some document that he wanted to read, but the judge said he couldn’t. Does anyone know more about this? ---
**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:** [November 6, 2023, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1087 "2023-11-06T18:25:27Z")
habba is giving remarks. the usual they are not being fair, the judge doesn’t want to hear what trump has to say, yadda, yadda. this happened earlier: Judge Arthur Engoron has continued to complain that Trump is giving broad, editorializing answers that aren’t focused on the state’s questions. “I beseech you to control him if you can,” Engoron told Trump lawyer Chris Kise. Engoron says if Kise can’t control his own client, the judge will do it by excusing Trump and drawing negative inferences against the former president. Kise said the most efficient way to get through the testimony is to listen to what Trump has to say, although he added that he is happy to talk to his client about making the answers more contained. Trump attorney Alina Habba also rose to defend the former president, telling Engoron that Kevin Wallace, senior enforcement counsel at the attorney general’s office, wasn’t asking Trump succinct questions. Habba then drew Engoron’s ire by telling the judge his role was to listen to what Trump has to say. Engoron told her to sit down. habba seems to be the political lawyer, kise leans toward the court lawyer. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2023, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1088 "2023-11-06T18:25:57Z")
i haven’t heard anything about that. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1089 "2023-11-06T18:27:00Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Does anyone know more about this? > **[Trump fraud trial recap: Former president testifies in N.Y. legal case](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/live-blog/trump-fraud-trial-live-updates-rcna122520)** > > The latest news and live updates as Trump testifies in his civil fraud case brought on by the New York attorney general. Last week, two of his sons gave their testimony. > Minutes ago, Trump pulled a paper out of his pocket, saying he wanted to read it. But the attorney general’s lawyer pivoted to another question, and Trump rested the document to his right on the witness stand. > > Trump then interrupted the lawyer, saying he just wanted to read the document, and turned to the judge for an answer. > > Engoron told him no. > > “I am shocked,” Trump said. > > It’s unclear what the document is. Given that Trump wasn’t allowed to read the document, I don’t think there’s any possible way to learn more unless and until he or his lawyers make a public statement about it. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1090 "2023-11-06T18:31:09Z")
Perhaps it was a nice haiku about his life thus far in order to sway the hardhearted judge. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1091 "2023-11-06T18:32:26Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > “I am shocked,” Trump said. I would love to know what tone of voice he used for that particular statement. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1092 "2023-11-06T18:34:17Z")
Young Mr. Trump: “At some point in my old age I’ll go there and build the most beautiful thing we’ve ever seen,” the 77-year-old said. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2023, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1093 "2023-11-06T18:40:28Z")
court is on break until 2:15 eastern, so much quoting from court documents going on. so far the young trumps have a much better sense of self preservation than trump himself. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1094 "2023-11-06T18:55:25Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > so far the young trumps have a much better sense of self preservation than trump himself. That sentence works just fine even when shortened: > so far the young trumps have ~~a~~ much better sense ~~of self preservation~~ than trump himself. You hit on the head though. The funny thing about trump is that he’s not only a man who cannot tell a non-lie, he’s a man who can’t edit what he does say even for his own benefit. IOW, it’s all false, and it’s all damaging at the same time. That’s a very speshul sort of dysfunctional personality. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1095 "2023-11-06T18:56:56Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > CNN, paraphrased: “After the break, in response to the first question, a Yes/No question, Trump launched into a speech.” Just for the benefit of those of you who do not regularly engage in legal proceedings, you may not appreciate how frequently this occurs, and how challenging it is for the decision-maker. -You don’t want to interfere with the party/witness saying what they want to say. -But you also want to get the answers that you know are relevant to the decision you have to make. -Then you have to decide how to encourage the party to testify more meaningfully when their lawyer isn’t. -And you want to make a record of the fact that this person is not testifying meaningfully, and is not directly responding to clear and direct questions. The easiest way is by making a comment in the moment in open court, but then you risk the atty accusing you of being partisan. It is far more challenging to remember to make a note of it in whatever decision you ultimately issue. -And it is not at all unusual to have a party or their attorney act in a manner that appears to have no goal other than to piss off the decision-maker such that they say something that can be objected to later. It sounds like Engeron is doing about as well as could be expected in a supremely challenging situation. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1096 "2023-11-06T19:14:20Z")
Per NYT: > The document was a copy of the much-discussed disclaimer clause, a strip of paper he pulled from the inside pocket of his suit. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1097 "2023-11-06T19:15:01Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > It sounds like Engeron is doing about as well as could be expected in a supremely challenging situation. I know that we’re getting things secondhand from the talking heads on TV, but that sounds accurate to me. Engoron is somehow keeping control of the proceedings. That hasn’t, and won’t, be easy, but he’s managing. And Trump must be furious, because it’s one of the few times in his life that he isn’t in control. A judge, who owes nothing to Trump, is. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1098 "2023-11-06T19:45:37Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > Per NYT: > > > The document was a copy of the much-discussed disclaimer clause, a strip of paper he pulled from the inside pocket of his suit. Maybe it was a note from Epstein’s mother. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2023, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1099 "2023-11-06T19:56:49Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > The document was a copy of the much-discussed disclaimer clause, a strip of paper he pulled from the inside pocket of his suit. Makes sense. A good 30% of his deposition was him beating that particular horse. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1100 "2023-11-06T19:58:16Z")
Here is a quote that I snitched from a reddit post > There’s obviously a lot of attention on the drama and nonsense, so here’s a summary of some of the evidence from this morning as well (from MSNBC’s live feed): > Where Trump’s testimony has helped the N.Y. AG so far > Lisa Rubin > During the lunch break, a colleague less steeped in the minutia of this case asked me whether the AG’s team is scoring any points, given how often Trump has digressed or ranted. Indeed, they have. > They have shown, for example, that despite having no memory of telling a Wall Street Journal reporter that a particular building was valued at $600 million, a contemporaneous email from his son showed he, in fact, did exactly that. > The AG’s team has shown that despite much lower, and sometimes even negative net revenue from leasing that same building, Trump told a Forbes reporter — on tape — that that building “threw off” between $50-60 million per year, another conversation Trump did not recall. > They have shown that Trump’s financial statements dating back nearly a decade valued his Aberdeen property in Scotland as if he could sell thousands of homes tomorrow, when Trump admitted that he still has not used that property for anything but building a second golf course while holding onto 1,000 acres on which those residences were supposed to be built. > And perhaps most damning of all, they exposed that despite signing promises to the Town of Palm Beach and the National Trust for Historic Preservation that he would never use or develop Mar-a-Lago as anything but a private membership club, Trump valued Mar-a-Lago on his financial statements as a private residence, as if those contractual agreements were as disposable as Kleenex. > Now that we are back from lunch, the focus has turned to Trump’s borrowing relationship with Deutsche Bank and the representations made to it in connection with a series of loans. Will the next two hours be similarly productive? Watch this space. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1101 "2023-11-06T20:15:31Z")
for my defence i would like to read from my “get out of jail free” card. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=54) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=56)