Eric Trump and Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg invoked the 5th Amendment protection against self-incrimination more than 500 times during a deposition with the New York Attorney General's office.
A Tuesday court filing, in which New York Attorney General Letitia James accused the Trump family business of enaging in “fraudulent or misleading” practices by misrepresenting the value of its assets, noted Eric Trump:
"invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in response to more than 500 questions over six hours."
Eric Trump pled the 5th to over 500 questions from Letitia James. Can you imagine being that guilty?— Tim Hannan (@Tim Hannan) 1642615418
The filing pointed out Weisselberg similarly "invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to more than 500 questions over five-and-a-half hours.”
In her filing, James argued the Trump Organization "has used delay tactics and litigation in an attempt to thwart a legitimate investigation into its financial dealings" for the last two years and seeks a court order that would enforce testimonial subpoenas issued to former President Donald Trump, and two of his children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump.
So NY Attorney General Letitia James revealed in a court filing that Eric Trump invoked his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination MORE THAN 500 TIMES in a deposition. Next up Don Jr., Ivanka & . . . their dad. #JusticeMatterspic.twitter.com/FkmyQyexEA— Glenn Kirschner (@Glenn Kirschner) 1642597836
James' filing marks the first time her office has leveled specific accusations against the Trumps, highlighting details the family's assets were “generally inflated as part of a pattern to suggest that Mr. Trump’s net worth was higher than it otherwise would have appeared" to lenders, insurers and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The news Eric Trump had declined to answer questions from investigators comes after he has repeatedly maligned the investigation and accused James of prosecutorial misconduct.
His behavior also runs counter to a claim made by his own father.
Cancer charity thief Eric Trump pleaded the 5th a whopping 500+ times when questioned by NY AG Leititia James\u2019s office over 6 hours\n\nThat\u2019s more than 1.39 times per minute\n\nHis own father: \u201cThe mob takes the Fifth. If you\u2019re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?\u201d— Lindy Li (@Lindy Li) 1642625280
Then-candidate Donald Trump during a campaign stop in 2016 once infamously declared only "the mob takes the Fifth," asking the crowd:
“If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?”
Donald Trump sure has strong feelings about people taking the Fifth.pic.twitter.com/9vkMZtEU9G— The Republican Accountability Project (@The Republican Accountability Project) 1638642685
And for many others besides his father, that suggests Eric Trump is guilty.
83 times per hour, 1.38 times per minute. Serious lightning round speed.— topcat468 (@topcat468) 1642615837
You know who pleads the 5th right @erictrump ?\n\nMobsters.\n\nEric Trump spent six hours pleading the Fifth Amendment more than 500 times in NY AG Letitia James' probe of the Trump Organization. \u201cIf you\u2019re innocent, why take the 5th? The mob takes the 5th.\u201d\n\npic.twitter.com/owt2VWGfrz https://twitter.com/RawStory/status/1483793010148130817\u00a0\u2026— THE SAD TRUTH (@THE SAD TRUTH) 1642680184
Didn't Trump senior in effect once say only guilty people take the fifth?https://twitter.com/TimHannan/status/1483862731740565506\u00a0\u2026— Dave Bagnall \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7 (@Dave Bagnall \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7) 1642671102
To: @EricTrump \n\nYour dad said that "Only guilty people take the 5th". \n\nThat makes you GUILTY 500 times.https://www.yahoo.com/news/eric-trump-pleaded-fifth-more-005458590.html\u00a0\u2026— Dennis R. Hill (@Dennis R. Hill) 1642701211
Go figure , chip off the old block, to block the real truthhttps://twitter.com/timhannan/status/1483862731740565506\u00a0\u2026— Kevin (@Kevin) 1642643399
Guilty as hell.https://twitter.com/rexzane1/status/1483834263317331969\u00a0\u2026— Barbara May (@Barbara May) 1642618707
Donald Trump (in)famously said that "only the mob pleads the fifth" when he was attacking Hillary Clinton. Eric Trump pled the 5th more than 500 times when he was subpoenaed by the NY AG. What does that make him?— Rex Zane (@Rex Zane) 1642608631
But yet Eric thinks he\u2019s innocent \nWhat a moronhttps://twitter.com/timhannan/status/1483862731740565506\u00a0\u2026— Joyce (@Joyce) 1642624953
500 times #SOGuiltyhttps://twitter.com/TimHannan/status/1483862731740565506\u00a0\u2026— Michele \ud83d\udc89\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc08\u200d\u2b1b\ud83d\udc08\ud83d\udc08\u200d\u2b1b\ud83d\udc89 with one 'l' (@Michele \ud83d\udc89\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc08\u200d\u2b1b\ud83d\udc08\ud83d\udc08\u200d\u2b1b\ud83d\udc89 with one 'l') 1642641289
If you\u2019re innocent you don\u2019t plead the 5th over 500 timeshttps://twitter.com/timhannan/status/1483862731740565506\u00a0\u2026— \ud835\udcd3\ud835\udcf2\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcd7\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcfb\ud835\udced\ud835\udcda\ud835\udcf2\ud835\udcf7\ud835\udcf0\ud835\udcfc\ud835\udcd5\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcf7\ud83d\udc97\ud83d\udc51 (@\ud835\udcd3\ud835\udcf2\ud835\udcee\ud835\udcd7\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcfb\ud835\udced\ud835\udcda\ud835\udcf2\ud835\udcf7\ud835\udcf0\ud835\udcfc\ud835\udcd5\ud835\udcea\ud835\udcf7\ud83d\udc97\ud83d\udc51) 1642641706
The October 5 deposition came just weeks after Eric Trump's attorney, Marc Mukasey of Mukasey Frenchman LLP, told a state Supreme Court judge in Manhattan he was withdrawing from the case on September 14. The court filing stated Eric Trump would continue to be represented by co-counsel criminal defense attorney Alan Futerfas.
Eric Trump drew heavy criticism for threatening to prosecute James over her office's investigation, having earlier maligned her as the "most unethical prosecutor in the history of the United States" and accusing her of orchestrating a political smear campaign against his father.
Weisselberg, who had also declined to answer questions, was indicted in a separate case involving the Trump Organization.
Last year, he surrendered to the Manhattan District Attorney's office in New York City and was charged with 15 felony counts for evading $1.76 million in taxes over 15 years.
