Trump was right to plead the Fifth. And he should do it often.
The Fifth Amendment is meant to protect people from self-incriminating. With legal troubles mounting, it's better for Trump to keep his mouth shut.
Former President Donald Trump declined to answer questions in a deposition by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office on Wednesday, invoking his right against self-incrimination.
The move follows an announcement that James’ office was considering filing a civil case against Trump over the Trump Organization’s business practices. “Thus far in our investigation, we have uncovered significant evidence that suggests Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization falsely and fraudulently valued multiple assets and misrepresented those values to financial institutions for economic benefit,” James said in January.
Many who aren’t fans of the former president may think his decision not to talk is just a cop-out. Possibly. But it could also be a legitimate assertion of his privilege against self-incrimination.
It’s not clear why Trump asserted the Fifth Amendment or what the potential self-incrimination threat might have been. And while he may suffer civil consequences in a case against him as a result, it was the right move to make. With legal troubles mounting, he should plead the Fifth often.
The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution grants a person the privilege not to answer questions in a civil proceeding, like a deposition, if the answers might incriminate the person in future criminal proceedings.
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