No Money Lost: Turley Criticizes Trump Fraud Verdict
Law Professor Jonathan Turley Criticizes Fraud Verdict Against Trump
In a recent interview with Fox News anchor John Roberts, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley expressed his dissatisfaction with the fraud verdict against former President Donald Trump. Turley argued that the $355 million fine imposed by Judge Arthur Engoron was excessive, especially considering that there was no measurable financial damage suffered by any of the so-called “victims.”
Turley highlighted the fact that instead of viewing themselves as victims and seeking restitution, these individuals actually wanted to continue doing business with Trump. They saw him as a valuable client and expressed their desire for more loans. Turley emphasized, “There’s not a single dollar lost by these ‘victims.’ In fact, the people that [Attorney General Letitia] James calls the victims actually wanted to do more business with Donald Trump. They said they made a lot of money and viewed him as a ‘whale’ client—they wanted more loans with him.”
Watch the interview:
Jonathan Turley: “There’s not a single dollar lost by these ‘victims’. In fact, the people that James calls the victims actually wanted to do more business with Donald Trump. They said they made a lot of money and…viewed him as a whale client—they wanted more loans with him.” pic.twitter.com/aC6KLPD1fY
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) February 20, 2024
Turley also pointed out that the banks Trump was accused of defrauding did not consider themselves victims. Since the loans based on the allegedly inflated property and asset valuations had already been fully repaid, the banks saw Trump as a valuable client and were eager to continue doing business with him. Turley explained, “Part of the disconnect here is that you have what will be over $455 million if you include interest and then, on the other side of the ledger, you have $0.”
Despite the lack of concern from the banks regarding fraud, Attorney General Letitia James filed charges against Trump, claiming victimhood on their behalf. James, who campaigned on a platform of “getting Trump,” took to Twitter to gloat about the verdict, asking, “So, how’s everyone feeling today?”
So, how’s everyone feeling today?
— Tish James (@TishJames) February 17, 2024
Despite the questionable nature of the charges and the lack of financial harm suffered by the alleged victims, the fraud verdict against Trump stands. It remains a contentious issue, with Turley and others criticizing the excessive fine imposed on the former president.
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What new standard for fraud cases did the verdict in the Trump case establish, according to Jonathan Turley?
With him.”
Turley further criticized the verdict, arguing that it set a dangerous precedent by establishing a new standard for fraud cases. He stressed that traditionally, fraud requires both deception and financial harm. However, in this case, there was no evidence of financial harm—in fact, the alleged victims admitted to benefiting financially from their association with Trump.
Turley expressed concern that this verdict could have a chilling effect on business transactions. He explained that if people perceive that any financial transaction carries the risk of being labeled as fraudulent, it could discourage potential business partners from engaging in legitimate deals. He cautioned, “If every transaction can be turned into a fraud case, then you will be doing a lot of damage to the economy and a lot of damage to how people are willing to engage in business transactions.”
Additionally, Turley criticized the role of politics in the case. He pointed out that the New York attorney general, who brought the charges against Trump, campaigned on the promise of investigating him. Turley suggested that this political motivation raises questions about the impartiality of the investigation and the subsequent verdict. He argued that letting politics influence legal decisions undermines the integrity of the justice system and erodes public trust in the process.
In conclusion, Jonathan Turley, a prominent law professor, criticized the fraud verdict against former President Donald Trump, calling the $355 million fine excessive. He argued that there was no measurable financial damage suffered by the alleged victims, who actually desired to continue doing business with Trump. Turley warned that the verdict could set a dangerous precedent for future fraud cases and expressed concern about the potential chilling effect on legitimate business transactions. Moreover, he highlighted the role of politics in the case, questioning the impartiality of the investigation and the motivations behind the charges.
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