this post was submitted on 07 Sep 2023
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DONALD TRUMP SAID he “absolutely” plans to testify in the federal government’s case against him regarding classified documents he removed from the White House. “I’m allowed to do whatever I want … I’m allowed to do everything I did,” the former president told conservative podcast host Hugh Hewitt.

In an interview on “The Hugh Hewitt Show” that dropped Wednesday, the host asked Trump, “Did you direct anyone to move the boxes, Mr. President? Did you tell anyone to move the boxes?” referring to the boxes of more than 300 classified documents the federal government seized last year from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

“I don’t talk about anything. You know why? Because I’m allowed to do whatever I want. I come under the Presidential Records Act,” Trump replied, while also taking a quick detour to bash Hewitt. “I’m not telling you. You know, every time I talk to you, ‘Oh, I have a breaking story.’ You don’t have any story. I come under the Presidential Records Act. I’m allowed to do everything I did.”

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[–] jordanlund@lemmy.one 109 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Will be super interesting to see him try that under oath...

[–] just_another_person@lemmy.world 74 points 1 year ago (2 children)

"OBJECTION YOUR HONOR. My client is a moron and just incriminated himself."

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.one 61 points 1 year ago (2 children)

"Your honor, I object!"

"And why is that?"

"Because it's devastating to my case!"

https://youtu.be/Dx32b5igLwA

[–] ummthatguy@lemmy.world 34 points 1 year ago

"Overruled."

"Good call."

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[–] baldingpudenda@lemmy.world 34 points 1 year ago (1 children)

His lawyers actually said that while he was president. They said he was incapable of being deposed without perjuring himself. Eventually they sent 10 questions written out and he had his lawyers with him to help respond.

[–] Tar_alcaran@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

They said he was incapable of being deposed without perjuring himself.

"Perjury trap" is a fake term that tries to place the blame for "My client is a compulsive liar and literally can't tell the truth to save his life" on the other party. And whoever came up with the term deserves both a raise for being amazing at their job, and a knee to the groin for being a shit human being.

[–] billiam0202@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

And whoever came up with the term deserves both a raise for being amazing at their job, and a knee to the groin for being a shit human being.

So, a lawyer.

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[–] Knusper@feddit.de 16 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I cannot imagine the guy speaking a single word in court.

[–] catfish@programming.dev 10 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I can def see a man-child reaction exactly like this dumb statement -kinda like what he did on the debates with Hillary and Biden, interrupting and interjecting his sad alternate reality- as the cases pick up steam and hes forced to fly between Fla, DC, Ga and wherever his current cult rally/grievance is that day, oh boy, is it gonna be fun or what?

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[–] Red_October@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

It would make for a much shorter trial, at least. Basically just a guilty plea with extra steps.

[–] holiday@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It seems like he is showing what his defense will be. It won't be whether he moved documents or shared confidential information or whatever. It will be them challenging the scope of power of the presidency.

[–] Endorkend@kbin.social 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

The defense comes down to the Afluenza Defense. Note, to my knowledge that never really worked before.

He keeps repeating he thinks he's allowed to do all these things and even when found in court he isn't allowed to do those things, they'll try to say he didn't know.

Thing is, he's playing dumb now, while he's repeatedly shown he knows full well what's right and what's wrong, his statements like how he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and no one would do anything about it, or the grab em by the pussy line.

He made statements showing he knows perfectly fine these are things one shouldn't do, but he does them anyway as he was never held responsible and could get away with it.

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[–] jordanlund@lemmy.one 13 points 1 year ago

Not really the scope of power so much as destroying Trump's delusional interpretation of the Presidential Record's Act.

If he honestly tries that in court he's going to get "Um, actually" lawyer-splained so fast BARRON'S kid's heads will spin.

[–] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 68 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I like a petulant Trump. Means he's worried.

[–] photonic_sorcerer@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He's always been petulant though.

[–] Red_October@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Which makes sense given his constant state of anxiety about whatever demographic, real or imagined, is supposedly after him for no good reason next.

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[–] hstde@feddit.de 62 points 1 year ago (2 children)

He can in fact do whatever he wants, he just needs to deal with the consequences of his actions.

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[–] Arsenal4ever@lemmy.world 48 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Candidate Trump needs to be belligerent and defiant. Defendant Trump needs to STFU.

The problem is those two things are in competition. So he has to say, Russia, Russia, Russia as candidate Trump, but that isn't a relevant or useful argument for defendant Trump. He has to say, "I'm allowed to do this thing" as candidate Trump, but as defendant Trump, I'm allowed to break the law is not a defense.

His only hope is to delay. If he goes to trial on anything, defendant Trump loses. If he can hold out, then candidate Trump will win.

This is his bet. He wins and it all goes away and the US is ruled by a guy who believes he can get away with anything.

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[–] dangblingus@lemmy.world 46 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If I was a Republican, and I fancied myself a man of wit, accountability, and maturity, I would not be able to reconcile my politics against just how absurdly juvenile, idiotic, and whiny Trump is at all times.

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[–] Pantsofmagic@lemmy.world 37 points 1 year ago

This attitude is terrifying to people who handle national security information. Just because you might have authority to declassify something doesn't mean you should. It's reckless and irresponsible to expose sources and methods unnecessarily - not to mention the information itself. There's a reason that declassified documents still have a lot of redactions.

This type of stuff is usually in a very controlled environment with significant physical security - not a bathroom.

[–] Fhek@lemm.ee 32 points 1 year ago

Holy shit I hate this man so much.

[–] xc2215x@lemmy.world 31 points 1 year ago

No you are not. It is classified for a reason.

[–] Pratai@lemmy.ca 26 points 1 year ago

American government: ‘No, you’re not.’

[–] Skulgan@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You stopped being president nearly four years ago, man. Grow up.

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[–] projectsquared@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I will die not understanding the allegiance this man has among his followers.

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[–] samus12345@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He's right until they prove him wrong.

[–] MaxHardwood@lemmy.ca 30 points 1 year ago (2 children)

There's literal audio recording of him acknowledging that he's fully aware he can't do whatever he wants with classified files.

As usual he's right until he proves himself wrong then claims he's right again.

[–] samus12345@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago

He's aware that it's illegal, but until there are consequences, whether something is illegal or not means fuck all.

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[–] theodewere@kbin.social 19 points 1 year ago (3 children)

he's allowed to do whatever he wants with whatever and whoever he wants whenever he wants or why else is he the king

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[–] ohlaph@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago (53 children)

Let the courts sort out his stupidity.

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[–] BeautifulMind@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

That all sounds to me like he's not trying to defend himself in court, that instead his entire plan is to win the presidency and stay there for life. All of these claims (I can do the thing, it's totally fine believe me) amount to confessions that he did what he's charged with, but are also appeals to his base that the courts are wrong and illegitimate.

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[–] satanmat@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

….aT which point his lawyer jumped in and said the the real trump would never say that .. fake fake prank call don’t ever call here again!!

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