Just a few thoughts on this Trump decision in New York.
- AG James based her election campaign on getting Trump. She's keeping her promise.
True, but she did not act until credible probable cause existed; namely, Michael Cohen's public testimony that Trump was fraudulently over-valuing and under-valuing his assets.
- It's a civil case and the decision will not disqualify Trump from running from office.
True
- It's yet another instance where the Trump haters are gloating that "we've got him now, Trump is doomed!" How many times has that been heard, even before the appeals process has run its course?
You are correct. There are a whole lot of people who prematurely said Trump was done. I don't think I have been among them. But now I am saying Trump is done in terms of his New York businesses. His business certificates have been canceled. That means he is done. This is not about a future hope. It's about action previously taken by a court.
After 30 days, Trump is legally prohibited from operating the businesses referenced in the court order. Without a valid business certificate, he cannot charge a fee to let someone use his NY golf course. He cannot collect rent in return for letting tenants occupy his NY properties. In that sense, regarding his NY businesses, Trump is done.
As I said above, Trump will appeal this ruling. But that does not mean the appeal will be heard by the appellate court, or that the ruling will be stayed while the appeal is pending. Appeal acceptance and a stay are separate questions yet to be answered. In either event, I'm willing to go out on a limb and say Trump's New York businesses are done.
That's because I do not expect Trump to succeed on appeal. He is done. Could I be wrong about this? Yes, I could be wrong. But given the facts now known and Trump's abysmal history in court, I am highly confident his appeal will fail immediately, or it will fail after a stay and after it is heard. An appeal may delay the final outcome for a time, but delayed or not, Trump's New York businesses are done.
Speaking of appeals, it will be interesting how far Trump and his family will be willing to take it. There could be significant grounds for reversal considering the obvious bias on the part of the AG and the judge.
"Arthur Engoron, an elected civil Justice of the New York County Supreme Court, issued a rare summary judgment that concluded that New York Attorney General Letitia James proved her case before the defense mounted its own...
The accusations stem from claims made in Congress by Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen — already convicted for lying to Congress — who cooperated with the Democrat-run House of Representatives in persecuting Trump...
Cohen alleged that Trump inflated the values of his real estate properties — which are estimates, in any case — in obtaining real estate loans from banks against those properties.
The judge agreed, ignoring the fact that the banks almost certainly did their own due diligence investigations before making those loans, and disregarding the fact that no bank lost money on the loans. It did not matter that there was no injured party; exaggeration itself was enough..."
(italics mine)
If it's true that the judge had made his decision before the Trump team was allowed to present their case, that should be reversible error in itself. One would be inclined to conclude that this case is far from over.
Obviously, I have made that conclusion. This case is over, except for the appeal that is destined to fail. We'll just have to wait to see if my confidence in this outcome was properly or improperly placed. I am confident Trump's New York businesses are done.
Lastly, it's obvious the Democrat party is establishing a template for not only defeating, but also destroying their political opponents.
No, it's not obvious. Prosecutors are acting where they believe crimes were committed. They did the same with Senator Menendez, and Hunter Biden (both Democrats).
It's no coincidence that all these cases against Trump are dropping in a year leading up to a presidential election in which the Democrat candidate is incredibly weak and unpopular.
The reason the cases are dropping now and not earlier is because Trump has done everything in his power to delay progress in the cases. He has never once said I am innocent and am looking forward to a speedy trial so I can be exonerated. He instead delayed, delayed, delayed.
If they can't defeat their opponents in the political arena, then go after them in the federal and sympathetic blue state courts. If Trump is taken out and another strong candidate steps up they too will be similarly attacked in the courts and the media. This is Marxism, pure and simple.
No it is not.