Trump’s attorney Alina Habba floated the assertion that Trump was part of a protected class, and shouldn’t be compelled to testify in the fraud case against him and the Trump Organization. Protected classes are groups of people who share a trait that is legally protected from discrimination, e.g. some protected traits would be race, gender, disability, or religion.
Justice Arthur Engoron shot down this assertion and directed Trump, Ivanka, and Junior to testify, stating that the investigation uncovered “copious evidence of possible financial fraud” and failing to issue subpoenas would have been a dereliction of duty.
Claiming protected status is an audacious move, but it seems clear that its intent wasn’t to change the outcome, but rather to delay it. Trump and his team, as incompetent as they appear to be at times, are masters at the art of stalling. They don’t have to be right, they don’t have to be honorable, they just have to continue dragging things put as long as possible in the hopes that a political solution rescues them from facing the consequences of their actions.
The Trumps also sought to put this case on hold while the criminal case is pending. Engoron denied that request.
I’m so tired of this entire family. The lot of them are crooks. It says something when Eric is your favorite Trump. 🤨
Photo by Grant Durr on Unsplash
