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u.s. news Diahuebs 11 augustus 2022

Trump says he took the Fifth in New York civil investigation

(AP) — Donald Trump “pleased to have had the op-
invoked his Fifth Amend- portunity to tell my side” last
ment protection against October in a lawsuit brought
self-incrimination as by protesters who say his se-
he testified under oath curity guard roughed them
Wednesday in the New up outside Trump Tower in
York attorney general’s 2015.
long-running civil inves-
tigation into his business However, Trump invoked
dealings, the former presi- the Fifth Amendment to re-
dent said in a statement. fuse to answer 97 questions
in a 1990 divorce deposition.
About an hour after arriv-
ing at Attorney General Le- Messages seeking comment
titia James’ Manhattan of- were left with James’ office.
fices, Trump announced that
he “declined to answer the Wednesday’s events unfold-
questions under the rights ed two days after FBI agents
and privileges afforded to ev- searched Trump’s Mar-a-
ery citizen under the United Lago estate in Florida as part
States Constitution.” of an unrelated federal probe
into whether he took classi-
“I once asked, ‘If you’re in- fied records when he left the
nocent, why are you taking White House.
the Fifth Amendment?’ Now
I know the answer to that attorney general was squan- him in a parallel criminal in- Trump had done so, given New York’s investigation is
question,” the statement said. dering time investigating him vestigation by the Manhattan his previous experience with led by James, a Democrat
“When your family, your instead of attending to crime district attorney. The Fifth depositions, a legal term for who has said in court filings
company, and all the people in New York. Amendment protects people sworn testimony that’s not that her office has uncovered
in your orbit have become from being compelled to be given in court. “significant” evidence that
the targets of an unfounded But after leaving around 3:30 witnesses against themselves Trump’s company misled
politically motivated Witch p.m., he described the en- in a criminal case. “Jousting with lawyers at de- lenders and tax authorities
Hunt supported by lawyers, counter as “very profession- positions, while avoiding ly- about the value of prized as-
prosecutors and the Fake al” and added a plug for his Also, if the attorney general’s ing, is something he’s proud sets like golf courses and sky-
News Media, you have no “fantastic” company. investigation leads to a civil of,” Gillers said. “Perhaps his scrapers.
choice.” case against Trump and it lawyers feared that his impet-
As vociferous as Trump has went to trial, jurors could be uosity would imperil him.” The company, the Trump
During more than six hours been in defending himself told that he invoked his pro- Organization, even exag-
at the office building, Trump in written statements and on tection against self-incrimi- Trump has undergone many gerated the size of Trump’s
used Truth Social, the social the rally stage, legal experts nation. depositions, dating to his ca- Manhattan penthouse, saying
media platform he founded, said answering questions in reer as a real estate developer. it was nearly three times its
to review the decor — “very a deposition was risky be- New York University law He has sometimes seemed actual size — a difference in
plush, beautiful and expen- cause anything he said could professor Stephen Gillers to relish giving answers: value of about $200 million,
sive” — and to suggest the potentially be used against said he was surprised that For example, he said he was James’ office said.

Biden signs ‘burn pits’ help for vets; a personal win, too

of affected troops run to 3.5 Danielle Robinson said. “So president has publicly drawn
million. many military families have between Beau’s fatal brain
had to fight this terrible emo- cancer and burn pits. The
“So many of you here to- tional battle. So many veter- president made addressing
day remind us that we have ans are still battling burn pit the problem one of his pri-
fought for this for so many illnesses today.” orities during his State of the
years,” he said during an Union address in March.
emotional White House After the Robinsons took
ceremony that reflected the their seats for the president’s “I was going to get this done,
struggles of military families remarks, Biden addressed come hell or high water,” he
— and the president’s per- Brielle directly. said Wednesday.
sonal experience.
“I know you miss your dad- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont.,
Biden was introduced by dy. But he’s with you all the who chairs the Senate Com-
Danielle Robinson, the wid- time,” he said. “He’s inside mittee on Veterans’ Affairs,
(AP) — President Joe the steel. You’re the sinew. ow of Sgt. 1st Class Heath you. He’s going to whisper in said Biden was a driving force
Biden, whose elder son You’re the very fiber that Robinson, who died of can- your ear when you have hard behind the legislation, which
Beau died of cancer years makes this country what it cer two years ago. The legis- decisions to make.” passed last week.
after deploying to Iraq, is.” lation is named for him.
signed legislation on Then he pointed out that “He was continually pushing
Wednesday expanding The law, which Biden de- She described her late hus- Brielle was sitting next to his because whether Beau died of
federal health care ser- scribed as long overdue, caps band as “a soldier as strong grandson, the son of Beau this or not, I think Joe thinks
vices for millions of veter- a years-long battle to ensure as an ox” but also “the ulti- Biden. that it had some impact, and
ans who served at military treatment for chronic illness- mate cuddler” for his daugh- so he wanted this fixed,”
bases where toxic smoke es that veterans have blamed ter Brielle, who stood to her “His daddy lost to the same Tester said. “And because he
billowed from huge “burn on burn pits, which were mother’s side clutching a burn pits,” Biden said. “He thinks it was the right thing
pits.” used to dispose of chemi- stuffed figurine wearing mili- knows what you’re going to do. So different president,
cals, tires, plastics, medical tary camouflage. through.” different set of priorities, this
“We owe you,” Biden said. equipment and human waste would have probably never
“You’re the backbone. You’re on military bases. Estimates “Ours is just one story,” It was the most direct link the happened.”