Thursday open thread: Deutsche Bank, and New York Attorney General announcement
As I was winding down my work day yesterday, these two nuggets of explosive news came across my Intertubes:
Breaking: NY prosecutors have subpoenaed @DeutscheBank for its records related to @realDonaldTrump and his businesses.
— David Enrich (@davidenrich) August 5, 2020
Deutsche Bank *has complied*, providing extensive documents and other materials. w @benprotess @WRashbaum @BenWeiserNYT @kirstendanis https://t.co/ZQjKiKIfsm
Inbox: N.Y. attorney general to make major national announcement Thursday
— Jon Steingart (@jonsteingart) August 5, 2020
Well, blow me down, Jim lad!
We'll find out in about four hours what AG Letitia James is about to blow into the political sphere. It may have nothing to do with Trump, but that's unlikely. It may have nothing to do with Trump's corruption, but that's 50/50.
However, the bombshell is that Deutsche Bank, the only bank which would lend money to Donald Trump and his crime family, has been cooperating with New York County DA Cyrus Vance for a year. This is major, but not for the reason you think.
Vance is still trying to get Trump's actual tax records. The fact that Deutsche Bank gave up the goods, and that the Supreme Court ruled that Vance can go after the tax records, is a twofer. As Trump tries to stall the release of his records, Vance can, and probably has, presented the relevant court with evidence from Deutsche Bank. This won't be a drawn-out process: when you have one bit of evidence, a judge is likely to grant you everything else. Between the bank's cooperation, and the SCOTUS ruling, there really is no legal justification for a judge to withhold the tax records. I don't wish to get ahead of myself, but we may see a November election contested between Joe Biden and a subject of a major criminal investigation.
But, it may get worse. We may see a November election contested between Joe Biden and an indicted Trump.
The New York Times piece goes on to state that the investigation is in its preliminary stages. But things like this tend to move fast. When a court orders Trump and his company to turn over all their tax and financial records, this country will be faced with a choice between Biden and an alleged criminal under indictment. The mind reels. And this is without knowing yet what AG James has up her sleeve.
Settle in kids. It only gets bumpier from here on out.