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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrumps lawyers push to make defamation lawsuit go away
Posted with permission.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trumps-lawyers-push-make-defamation-lawsuit-go-away?cid=sm_fb_maddow
Trumps lawyers push to make defamation lawsuit go away
07/10/17 11:30 AM
By Steve Benen
As much of the world no doubt recalls, Donald Trump was recorded in 2005 boasting about his romantic exploits, which eventually led him to brag about committing sexual assaults. The Republican said, among other things, that he kisses women he considers attractive I dont even wait, Trump claimed which he said he can get away with because of his public profile.
And when youre a star, they let you do it, Trump said on the recording. You can do anything. Grab em by the py.
After Trump denied having done what he bragged about doing, 11 women came forward to accuse the Republican of sexual misconduct one of whom, Summer Zervos, is currently suing the president for defamation, stemming from the controversy.
The Washington Post reports that Trumps lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, whos also helping defend the president in the Russia scandal, is pushing a few arguments in the hopes of making this case go away, including the curious idea that campaign rhetoric doesnt count.
Kasowitz also argued that Zervos complaint should be dismissed because her original allegations against Trump were not true and, in addition, because Trumps campaign-trail statements were protected by the First Amendment. A certain level of hyperbole is to be expected in the heat of a political campaign, he wrote, and such statements are legally protected speech.
During the campaign, Trump said the women who accused against him of inappropriately touching them were putting forward made-up stories and lies and telling totally false stories. Kasowitz argued those statements and others could not be considered defamatory but instead were nothing more than heated campaign rhetoric designed to persuade the public audience that Mr. Trump should be elected president irrespective of what the media and his opponents had claimed over his 18-month campaign.
Its amazing how frequently Trumps lawyers cling to this line in judicial proceedings.
Team Trump is effectively saying the presidents heated rhetoric doesnt count because hes a politician trying to pick up votes.
Which is what Trumps lawyers said while trying to defend the White Houses Muslim ban.
And what Trumps lawyers said while trying to defend the presidents executive order on so-called sanctuary cities.
And what Trumps lawyers said while trying to defend his rhetoric that allegedly incited violence at a campaign rally.
And even what Trumps lawyers said while trying to defend him from fraud allegations in the Trump University case.
no_hypocrisy
(46,187 posts)Settle with a respectable amount of money and an apology.
Over in 5 minutes.