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Ariana Baio
Aug 10, 2022
Donald Trump's Trump Organization Deposition
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"If you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?" asked Donald Trump in 2016.
But the former president is now eating his famous last words after invoking his Fifth Amendment right during his deposition with the New York attorney general's office.
The Trump Organization's finances have been under investigation by NY attorney general Letitia James' office for the last three years. The investigations are to determine whether the organization misled lenders, insurers, and tax authorities by inflating the value of assets.
As Trump went in for questioning, a statement was released and posted to his Truth Social account in which he explained why he was pleading the Fifth.
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"I once asked, 'If you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?' Now I know the answer to that question," Trump wrote.
"When your family, your company, and all the people in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded, politically motivated Witch Hunt supported by lawyers, prosecutors, and the Fake News Media, you have no choice."
Online people mocked and criticized Trump for invoking his Fifth Amendment right after spending years doing the same to Clinton and her staff.
\u201cSo I heard he took the fifth?\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1660141346
Many people posted compilations of Trump previously criticizing those who invoked their Fifth Amendment right to highlight his hypocrisy.
"Taking the Fifth, I think it’s disgraceful," Trump said in 2016.
In 2014, Trump said, "If you are innocent, do not remain silent. You look guilty as hell!”
\u201cDonald Trump pleaded the Fifth Amendment today. Let\u2019s go back and see what Donald Trump thinks about those that plead the Fifth Amendment, shall we?\u201d— The Lincoln Watchman\ud83d\udc40\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@The Lincoln Watchman\ud83d\udc40\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1660143783
\u201cDonald Trump on the Fifth Amendment:\n\n\u201cThe mob takes the Fifth.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf you\u2019re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment.\u201d\n\n\u201cTaking the Fifth, I think it\u2019s disgraceful.\u201d\n\nDonald Trump is currently pleading the Fifth.\n\nBy his own logic, #TrumpIsGuilty\u201d— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) 1660141557
In the US, the Fifth Amendment protects a person's right to self-incrimination.
This allows people to refuse to answer any questions to prevent themselves from accidentally confessing to a crime. Although it protected under the US Constitution, often it has been connoted with guilt.
In his statement, Trump said he was advised his counsel to decline any questions under oath because "the current Administration and many prosecutors in this Country have lost all moral and ethical bounds of decency."
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