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Trump Campaign Sent Cease-and-Desist Letter to ProPublica Attempting to Stop Their Latest Exposé. It Didn’t Work. (www.mediaite.com)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

22 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Former President Donald Trump's campaign and businesses have provided "Significant financial benefits" to nine of the witnesses in his criminal cases, ProPublica reported Monday morning - shrugging off a threatening cease-and-desist letter sent by Trump's attorney.

The detailed report by ProPublica's Robert Faturechi, Justin Elliott, and Alex Mierjeski describes how nine individuals who have been named as witnesses received benefits that included "Large raises from his campaign, severance packages, new jobs, and a grant of shares and cash from Trump's media company" from Trump's various campaign committees and businesses.

These benefits "Often came at delicate moments in the legal proceedings against Trump," said the report, highlighting one example of Trump aide Dan Scavino, who was given a "Plum position on the board of Trump's social media company, for example, got the seat after he was subpoenaed but before he testified." Other well-known names in Trump's circle mentioned in the article include campaign adviser Boris Epshteyn, campaign head Susie Wiles, lawyer Evan Corcoran, and former Trump Org CFO Allen Weisselberg.

Salary increases, bonuses, promotions, and other benefits, can be evidence of witness tampering, the ProPublica article explained, if prosecutors can show that these employment changes occurred separate from normal business operations and the "Perks or punishments were intended to influence testimony." Even if no new charges are brought against the former president who is now a convicted felon, the details of these benefits could be used by prosecutors in Trump's still-pending cases to "Undermine the credibility" of these witnesses if the defense calls them to provide testimony helpful to Trump.

The Trump Org and various campaign entities have, of course, denied that any wrongdoing took place, and denied that Trump had knowledge or direct involvement in compensation issues.

One former aide compared working for the Trump Organization, his large company, to "a small family business" where every employee "In some sense reports to Mr. Trump." Former aides have said Trump demands unwavering loyalty from subordinates, even when their duties require independence Trump's former campaign manager and former campaign adviser were convicted on federal witness tampering charges in 2018 and 2019.

Trump posted on social media that he had read about a Georgia politician who "Will be testifying before the Fulton County Grand Jury. He shouldn't." One witness has said publicly that, when he quit working for Trump in the midst of the classified documents criminal investigation, he was offered golf tournament tickets, a lawyer paid for by Trump and a new job that would have come with a raise.

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[–] [email protected] 84 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Hey morons, even if the cease-and-desist worked... it's the Internet. It doesn't go away that easily.

[–] [email protected] 57 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Someone learned that the hard enough way that there is an entire term for it now and it bears her name, lol. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

[–] [email protected] 36 points 5 months ago (2 children)

What's even funnier is that most people have even forgotten what she was trying to hide. Like, it was just some stupid photo of her house. People care so little about it that they forget even though the effect is named for her trying to hide it.

Like if we were to try to imagine a world where she didn't try to have the image removed from the report, literally nobody would have ever cared. How many other famous houses are in random government reports about coastal erosion? It's probably a lot, considering where rich people like to put their houses.

She failed so spectacularly at keeping it hidden that it will live on in infamy forever.

That's the Streisand Effect.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 months ago

Oh, I remember now, aerial photography highlighting how coastal millionaires illegally restricted access to California beaches. Thanks

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 months ago

I thought she was trying to hide the Triangle of Zinthar.

[–] [email protected] 78 points 5 months ago (1 children)

[–] [email protected] 13 points 5 months ago

I came here looking for Barbara. Thank you.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 5 months ago (1 children)

ProPublica proving again why they are one of the best. \○/

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago

Fully worth the $10 I throw them every month.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Cease and desist on what basis? Libel? Hey Donny boy, if it's true, it's fair game.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 months ago

Cease and desist or he will "consider his legal options" which is about the emptiest threat possible.

Oh no! He's going to think about how he has no case because everything they're reporting is factual and he's a public figure.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 5 months ago

Something they didn't want us to see... A cease and desist will definitely temper my aspiration to see it. I definitely don't want to go watch now, definitely.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 5 months ago (1 children)

ProPublica is the embodiment of integrity. Trying to get in their way is just going to splay out more of your cards.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 months ago

At the moment, that is true.

What happens to ProPublica after Trump becomes dictator??

It may take a few years, but once he goes "full Putin", there are going to be executions of whistleblowers, real-journalists, etc..

Anybody who is ignoring/denying that is living in lala land.

_ /\ _

[–] [email protected] 22 points 5 months ago

Must ProPublica be so awesome?

I'm not complaining. I'm grateful.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Unfortunately these threats do work. Media matters just had to lay off a bunch of people to pay its legal expenses following Elon's suit. Nonprofits don't have a ton of money, and those that fight the powerful are...fighting those that do.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 5 months ago

Lol, what a snowflake

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago

The Trump Org and various campaign entities have, of course, denied that any wrongdoing took place, and denied that Trump had knowledge or direct involvement in compensation issues.

"We didn't do anything wrong, and even if we did, Trump himself didn't do it."

This is undermined by the multiple witnesses in the trial which just ended, who repeatedly testified that Trump insists on hand signing every single check that is for more than a certain amount of money. It has varied over time, but usually something relatively low, like $10k. He is characterized as a relentless micromanager when it comes to money, and is famous for (and constantly brags about) fighting every financial charge, and never paying a penny more than he has to.

It would not be reasonable to assume that large payouts or appointments to high up positions within any Trump org could happen without Trump's knowledge and approval.

This brings us back to:

The Trump Org and various campaign entities have, of course, denied that any wrongdoing took place, and denied that Trump had knowledge or direct involvement in compensation issues.

This was essentially his exact defense in that NY criminal trial, and the jury didn't buy it.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago

"How dare they expose my crimes!" -- Trump

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

The supreme court has roundly refused prior restraint, Donny!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Gereatric nepotism babies do be like that tho