# 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:** 91
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1802 "2024-01-11T20:42:40Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > He’s taking questions, but not giving answers, just blathering. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8pdpUIr662k/hqdefault.jpg "MASH Press Conference") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pdpUIr662k) ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1803 "2024-01-11T21:02:01Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I’m imagining Kise sprinting on the treadmill, thinking about Trump, and belting out > > > [@](#): > > > > We > > Are Never ever ever > > Getting back together! Given how weird the world has become, a quote from Lewis Carroll seems apropos. “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak — Pray, how did you manage to do it?” “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw, Has lasted the rest of my life.” ---
**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:** [January 11, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1804 "2024-01-11T21:40:44Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Unstated by the judge: “Shut the F\*!K UP Donny! You’re out of your element!” My thought was more, “The adults are talking.” > [@hajario (Quoting The Hill's article)](#): > > "He may not seek to introduce new evidence. He may not ‘testify.’ He may not comment on irrelevant matters,” Engoron wrote in the email. “In particular, and without limitation, he may not deliver a campaign speech, and he may not impugn myself, my staff, plaintiff, plaintiff’s staff, or the New York State Court System, none of which is relevant to this case, and all of which, except commenting on my staff, can be done, and is being done, in other forums.” Shades of _My Cousin Vinnie_ **Judge Chamberlain Haller** : Mr. Gambini, the next words out of your mouth better be “guilty” or “not guilty.” I don’t want to hear commentary, argument, or opinion. I don’t want to hear any facts or evidence. If I hear anything other than “guilty” or “not guilty”, you’ll be in contempt. I don’t even want to hear you clear your throat to speak. Now… how do your clients plead? **Vinny Gambini** : I think I get the point. **Haller** : No, I don’t think you do. Now you’re officially in contempt of court! Would you like to say something else and go for two counts of contempt of court? **Gambini** : Not guilty? **Haller** : Thank you. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1805 "2024-01-11T21:43:39Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > They probably promised him a hamberder and two (TWO!) scoops of ice cream if he left. I think Trump is satisfied with one scoop of ice cream as long as no one else has any. It’s only when someone else has one that man baby must have two. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1806 "2024-01-11T22:20:42Z")
> [@Tatterdemalion](#): > > Given how weird the world has become, a quote from Lewis Carroll seems apropos. One of my fourth graders is learning that poem to present to the class in a couple of weeks. I got to work with her on emotion and rhythm today. It was glorious. But I’m specifically hoping that Kise, like Taylor Swift, preps for court by running on a treadmill and practicing Swift’s entire oeuvre. Given her propensity for throwing shade at shady dudes, it seems on point. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1807 "2024-01-12T00:02:26Z")
How much in damages do you think the Trump organization will be liable for? I’m going to go with a conservative number and say $300,000,000. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1808 "2024-01-12T01:26:20Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Shades of _My Cousin Vinnie_ > > **Judge Chamberlain Haller** : Mr. Gambini, the next words out of your mouth better be “guilty” or “not guilty.” I don’t want to hear commentary, argument, or opinion. I don’t want to hear any facts or evidence. If I hear anything other than “guilty” or “not guilty”, you’ll be in contempt. I don’t even want to hear you clear your throat to speak. Now… how do your clients plead? > **Vinny Gambini** : I think I get the point. > **Haller** : No, I don’t think you do. Now you’re officially in contempt of court! Would you like to say something else and go for two counts of contempt of court? > **Gambini** : Not guilty? > **Haller** : Thank you. Thank you so much for writing out what you were thinking of instead of making yet one more blind link to yet one more YouTube video. Let’s hope others will pick up on this trend. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1809 "2024-01-12T06:00:20Z")
It’s still two weeks till the verdict. Let’s assume that Trump is found guilty. My question is : how much damage will it do to Trump? He will be banned from doing business in NY state.He will be fined $300 million. Specifically, how will that affect him? (Other than causing him to rant and rave , announce that he will arrest the judge,etc) I have a few guesses: 1. Trump will have to step down as CEO, and appoint somebody else . (Could it be Rudy Guiliani?.) Then the new CEO will hire Trump as a salaried employee. 2. Trump will have to change the name of the company, since Trump Enterprises will no longer have a business license in NY. Can he selll the company to ,say, Guiliani for one dollar? Then the new company will be renamed something to assuage Trump’s ego. Maybe “the Donald Organization”. 3. He will find a way to avoid paying the 300 million fine. I don’t know how, but he will. Maybe divert money from the Republican party? So I’m guessing that Trump won’t really be affected by losing this trial. Am I totally misunderstanding things?(I hope so!). ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1810 "2024-01-12T06:07:26Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Trump will have to change the name of the company, since Trump Enterprises will no longer have a business license in NY. Can he selll the company to ,say, Guiliani for one dollar? Then the new company will be renamed something to assuage Trump’s ego. Maybe “the Donald Organization”. Trump won’t be able to sell his business for a $1. New York will make sure his companies are parted out and sold on the open market at a fair value. I’m very interested to see what happens to Mar-a-Lago given that it isn’t a private residence and I wonder if Trump is at risk of losing it. And if he could sell it for $1, who the hell does Trump trust well enough not to screw him over? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1811 "2024-01-12T06:43:40Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > And if he could sell it for $1, who the hell does Trump trust well enough not to screw him over? [![](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/unanything/images/e/ef/Mr.snrub.jpg) ](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/unanything/images/e/ef/Mr.snrub.jpg) “Hello! My name is Mr… Pmurt! Yes, that will do. And I come from… somewhere far away!” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1812 "2024-01-12T06:50:00Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Can he selll the company to ,say, Guiliani for one dollar? Giuliani is bankrupt. And no all that would be just more fraud. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2024, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1813 "2024-01-12T07:32:12Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Let’s assume that Trump is found guilty. He can’t be. It’s not a criminal trial. He can be found **liable** though. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1814 "2024-01-12T07:39:49Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > 1. Trump will have to step down as CEO, and appoint somebody else . (Could it be Rudy Guiliani?.) > Then the new CEO will hire Trump as a salaried employee. Trump on salary? Not a chance. Trump will sign on as a consultant in which he gets his entire fee in advance, then not do anything. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2024, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1815 "2024-01-12T07:44:24Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > And if he could sell it for $1, who the hell does Trump trust well enough not to screw him over? At this point, that would be a _fraudulent preference_—an attempt to keep assets out of the hands of creditors, by passing them (via $1 sales, for example) to non-creditors. That’s fine, up to a point, but he has passed that point. Basically, he’s screwed. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1816 "2024-01-12T07:59:11Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > He can’t be. It’s not a criminal trial. > > He can be found **liable** though. And to that point, he’s already been found liable. The entire purpose of this trial has been to determine damages. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2024, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1817 "2024-01-12T08:09:54Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The entire purpose of this trial has been to determine damages. No. He was found liable of some of the accusations but not all. This is **not** just a trial to determine damages, that is incorrect. > **[Trump civil fraud case: Judge fines Trump $354 million, says frauds 'shock...](https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/live-updates/trump-fraud-trial/?id=103642561)** > > Get updates from the trial of former President Trump in the civil fraud suit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. > Trump, his sons [Eric Trump and and Donald Trump Jr.](https://abcnews.go.com/US/new-york-ag-plans-call-trump-adult-sons/story?id=103565222), and other top Trump Organization executives are accused by New York Attorney General Letitia James of engaging in a decade-long scheme in which they used “numerous acts of fraud and misrepresentation” to inflate Trump’s net worth in order get more favorable loan terms. The trial comes after the judge in the case ruled in a [partial summary judgment](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-trump-submitted-fraudulent-valuations-assets-secure-loans/story?id=103508205) that Trump had submitted “fraudulent valuations” for his assets, leaving the trial to determine additional actions and what penalty, if any, the defendants should receive. The key is _partial_ summary judgment. He has not been found fully liable of everything he has been accused of. This trial is to determine if he’s liable for the rest and what penalties should come. You may have this mixed up with the Alex Jones case where Jones was considered fully liable by summary judgment for failing to comply with discovery requirements, and the later trial that he actually showed up for was solely to determine damages. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1818 "2024-01-12T13:14:28Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > He will find a way to avoid paying the 300 million fine. I don’t know how, but he will. Maybe divert money from the Republican party? How much is in the coffers of the Trump “charitable” organizations? You know those will be the first ones emptied! ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1819 "2024-01-12T13:43:08Z")
He’ll probably fire-up Fleece-a-Rube dotcom, as there are still, evidently, plenty of them willing to fund his legal hijinx. ---
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1820 "2024-01-12T16:28:53Z")
I heard CNN talking, and they said the appeal process for this will take **YEARS**!! Will it just be buiness as usual for Trump during the appeals process? MtM ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991/1821 "2024-01-12T17:07:25Z")
> [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](#): > > I heard CNN talking, and they said the appeal process for this will take **YEARS**!! > > Will it just be buiness as usual for Trump during the appeals process? I was just discussing with my wife this morning (in the context of the NY case) how this shows a shortcoming in relying upon the courts, when dealing with a very wealthy and unprincipled party whose primary goal seems to be to delay, while raising money off of any prosecution efforts. I don’t know of any better solution. But it sure does seem like it will largely be business as usual for Trump at least through November’s election, through a potential second term, and possibly through the end of an obese 77 year old’s life expectancy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=90) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-ag-letitia-james-drops-the-civil-hammer-on-trump-family-9-21-2022/971991.md?page=92)