this post was submitted on 11 Dec 2023
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Donald Trump announced he would not take the witness stand for a second time at his fraud trial in New York on Monday, the former US president’s last chance to make his case as he combats a potential $250m fine that hangs over his family business.

Trump had been expected to take the stand again as the hearings draw to a close. But on Sunday he announced on the Truth Social site that he would no longer be making an appearance.

“I HAVE ALREADY TESTIFIED TO EVERYTHING & HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY OTHER THAN THAT THIS IS A COMPLETE & TOTAL ELECTION INTERFERENCE (BIDEN CAMPAIGN!) WITCH HUNT, THAT WILL DO NOTHING BUT KEEP BUSINESSES OUT OF NEW YORK, I WILL NOT BE TESTIFYING ON MONDAY. MAGA!” he wrote, signing off with the abbreviation for his Make America great again slogan.

Because Trump was already found guilty of fraud in a September pre-trial ruling, the trial has been over whether Trump and his family knew they were inaccurately representing the value of their assets on financial documents. If found guilty of doing that, Trump will have to pay a fine that could be at least $250m. Trump would also lose his New York business licenses – which would make it impossible for him to run his real estate business in the state – if an appeals court upholds the pre-trial judgment.

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[–] ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca 67 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Probably for the best. Last time he was on the stand the judge threatened to kick him off if he mentioned Biden or Democrats or Deep State any more because none of that has been entered into evidence and you can't just say anything you want on the stand.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 42 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I don't even understand why he did it when there were no cameras on him. He wasn't even performing for his audience. I guess he really is that demented.

[–] ZagamTheVile@lemmy.world 109 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Because this isn't an act. This really is who he is. He's not showing off for the cameras, it's not calculated to get attention. He is exactly one layer deep. This is it. This is who he is. An old, fat, spoiled child that has never been told "no" in any meaningful way and has been surrounded by yesmen and sycophants his entire life. He behaves like this around cameras, he behaves like this in a one on one meeting.

[–] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 16 points 11 months ago (1 children)

One of the freakiest things I ever saw was a Trump family photo. Donnie, Melania, and five [?] year old Baron. Besides the gold wallpaper, the thing that amazed me was that they had Baron wearign a little business suit and sitting in a toy limo. Because who wants their kid to dream of being a jet pilot or a space man? Make sure he's programmed from Day One to be a clone.

[–] Substance_P@lemmy.world 12 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Wasn't Barron riding a fake lion and the toy limo was just that, a small toy limousine. The hot trash interior design is on another level. The portrait is talked about in snopes https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/family-photograph-of-melania-barron-and-donald-trump/

[–] evatronic@lemm.ee 10 points 11 months ago

The most telling part about that "family portrait" was how distant everyone was from each other. Poor kid is on the other side of the room, ffs.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 12 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

The fact that SO MANY still don't realize this is truly baffling. The only explanation I can come up with is they are also adult children themselves, and thusly do not even know what maturity looks like.

[–] oatscoop@midwest.social 9 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

One of the most depressing parts of getting older is seeing how many of your peers just stop mentally developing at some point -- middle age people for which highschool never ended.

[–] ZagamTheVile@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

Most of his cult loves him because of this. They love that he's mean, and a bully, and selfish. He acts like they want to but can't. They'd have repercussions and consequences, he doesn't. They get to see a guy behave like they dream about behaving and get away with it. They know exactly who he is, they aren't being fooled, he's not conning them. He's a hero to them because he holds up to the ideals they truly believe in. They totally realize who and what he is. They worship him because of it, not in spite of it.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago

Don’t forget that he’s demented. And a sociopath.

Oh, and a fraud.

Ah, yes, and a rapist.

So very. Much best.

[–] ares35@kbin.social 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

there may be a little slurping and grunting in some of his 'one on one' meetings.

[–] jaybone@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

Grab them by the MAGA.

[–] Wiggums@lemmy.world 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I think the assumption that it will get out and be discussed is being proven right here, cameras or not his mouth is a megaphone

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

I guess, but not really at a significant level. Not compared to his press conferences outside the courtroom.

[–] mateomaui@reddthat.com 25 points 11 months ago

Every single time

[–] wowwoweowza@lemmy.ml 22 points 11 months ago

May he be held in contempt and convicted of everything.

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 20 points 11 months ago (2 children)

What are the odds he pays the money though? Seriously when has he ever fully paid a debt?

[–] DoomBot5@lemmy.world 21 points 11 months ago (1 children)

They'll probably seize his assets, including Trump Tower which he could no longer operate.

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 10 points 11 months ago

I hope so. So far he's gone about 99% unpunished for his many crimes though...

[–] CluckN@lemmy.world 17 points 11 months ago

He just needs to do another $10,000 a plate hotdog dinner and he’ll make it back.

[–] RestrictedAccount@lemmy.world 19 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Who would support this coward?

[–] TrickDacy@lemmy.world 20 points 11 months ago

About 70 million morons and assholes

[–] EmpathicVagrant@lemmy.world 17 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Will he change his mind if we put hamburders in the witness stand

[–] DoomBot5@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago

Tell him that they will order him free McDonald's after he testifies. He can't resist McDonald's and free.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago

With a large covfefe

[–] suction@lemmy.world 14 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Well he’s kind of an expert on election interference. Hopefully he’ll never get to apply his expertise again.

[–] flambonkscious@sh.itjust.works 0 points 11 months ago

Yeah, that's not a side business I want to see getting established (it's already too much of a thing as it is)

[–] recapitated@lemmy.world 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

This is only news because the media was previously dumb enough to report on something he said previously. (Which, naturally was the opposite of the truth).

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Not dumb. Crooked. Corrupt. Unethical.

[–] recapitated@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

Eh, I don't know. There's definitely some of that. I think most outlets just still don't have a good playbook for a major public figure who only says things that are wrong or not followed through to this degree. And ideally they shouldn't need a play for something like that.

Basically every thing the man says should be ignored because it's always meaningless.

[–] Lophostemon@aussie.zone 9 points 11 months ago (2 children)

He’ll do what he’s fucking told to do.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 14 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Actually, no, he never does that. This may be the first time he's done what anyone else told him to do since his father died. I think it shows how fucked he is.

[–] nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

He can't be compelled to testify against himself in general. The extent to which that can be held against him in court varies from not at all in criminal cases to somewhat in civil cases.

The point of announcing this last minute was legal strategy - the prosecution's team would have spent a long time preparing to cross-examine Trump. All that time is now wasted. That was the point. He probably never intended to actually testify.

[–] homura1650@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

This is a civil case, not a criminal one. His 5th amendment protections are much weaker. If he says that his testimony may support criminal charges, then he is allowed to take the 5th. However, in a civil trial, the fact finder is allowed to draw a negative inference from that.

Having said that, none if this is relevent. He already testified during the State's case, which is the only time he would need to invoke privilege. Since this is the defense case, they get to simply not call him.

Unless one of his co-defendants subpoenaed him, which is also not the case.

[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 3 points 11 months ago
[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

... but he will be happily of assistance to his followers if they need to find the way to the court with their pitchforks and torches.