(TargetLiberty.org) – Former President Donald Trump seems to be conceding defeat in the case led by New York Attorney General Letitia James over accusations of business fraud, commented former DOJ official, John Yoo, recently.
Competing in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, Trump was in a New York court this week to address charges of business deceit. He has been accused by James of exaggerating his net worth by billions over the decade between 2011 and 2021, purportedly to gain favorable bank loans and lower taxes.
Judge Arthur Engoron, presiding over the case, declared last week that fraud was committed by Trump, his grown children, their companies, and other officials. Now, during this trial, six more allegations, including forgery of business documents and insurance fraud, are being evaluated.
Yoo, once a deputy assistant attorney general under the Bush administration, opined that Trump is using a twofold strategy—legal and political—which don’t complement each other. He expressed, during a Fox News interview, his belief that Trump has mentally conceded legal defeat, morphing the situation into a political campaign instead.
As he proceeded to court, Trump criticized both James and Engoron vehemently. He labeled the trial as an extension of the “largest witch hunt ever”, denouncing both individuals.
The former president claims the legal process is prejudiced against him, asserting that he’s been singled out for political reasons. This rhetoric resonates with Republican primary voters, as surveys indicate Trump still leads the GOP presidential primaries.
Yoo emphasized that Trump’s public statements are geared towards politics but could jeopardize his legal stance. Criticizing Judge Engoron might decrease the chances of a favorable outcome for Trump. Yoo also predicted that even if appealed, Trump’s legal prospects are bleak.
He surmised, “This seems like a concession on the legal front, with a pivot to use the platform for political messaging. However, this political stance could undermine his chances in the ongoing trial.”
While Trump might face financial penalties from this civil trial, he doesn’t face criminal prosecution. Nevertheless, legal pundits believe the trial’s results might adversely affect his business endeavors in New York.
Following last week’s verdict, Judge Engoron called for the revocation of some of Trump’s New York business licenses and for the transfer of ownership of some of his assets to neutral parties. Such a move has been likened by legal experts to a “corporate death sentence”. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, hinted that this could be a fiscal disaster for Trump.
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