Leftist NY judge orders Trump to give video deposition in protesters’ lawsuit

https://youtu.be/7AthpD0YUd4
Screen capture … September 2015 Trump Tower protesters … Credit: Tech Time

On Friday, a progressive New York Supreme Court judge presiding over a lawsuit ordered President Trump to give a videotaped deposition, saying Trump’s testimony is “indispensable.”

State Supreme Court Judge Doris Gonzalez of the Bronx denied Trump attorneys’ efforts to halt the subpoena requiring him to videotape a deposition for the trial before jury selection begins September 26.

The suit was filed by protesters “involved in an incident” outside Trump Tower in September 2015, claiming they were assaulted by security staff.

Six protesters of Mexican origin sued Trump, the Trump Organization, his presidential campaign, and security personnel, according to the Associated Press.

Trump’s attorneys argued that to force a sitting president to give a deposition requires a “showing of exceptional circumstances” and that he would be a witness possessing unique first-hand knowledge of the claims.

Gonzalez rejected that argument. “President Trump’s relationship with the other defendants is now central to plaintiffs’ prosecution of their claims,” she wrote. “As such, his testimony is indispensable.”

The judge took advantage of the opportunity to pointedly bash the President, adding: “More than 200 years ago our founders sought to escape an oppressive, tyrannical governance in which absolute power vested with a monarch. Put more plainly, no government official, including the Executive, is above the law.”

Benjamin Dictor, attorney for the plaintiffs, argued in court papers against the suit’s defendants that they were attacked by security guards in a “negligent or reckless manner” outside the main entrance to Trump Tower and their signs were confiscated. They were demonstrating against then-candidate Trump’s comments about illegal Mexican immigrants, claiming he was a racist.

Dictor said his intent is to claim Trump “condoned and directed the violent actions of his staffer Sept. 3, 2015,” according to the New York Post.

“This is a case about Mr. Trump’s responsibility as an employer of individuals who were authorized to use force in the course of their duties as employees to him and to the Trump Organization and to the Trump campaign,” Dictor told Law.com.

“The decision today was not surprising because the law has been clear that a plaintiff is entitled to the trial testimony of an adverse party and no one is above the law including Donald Trump,” Dictor said.

The September 2015 protests were widely reported at the time, with many offensive signs being carried on the sidewalk in front of the building and some dressed in white robes and pointed hoods, calling to mind the Ku Klux Klan.

News accounts of the 2015 incident indicate that after a demonstrator wedged a protest sign along a concrete planter on private property in front of the building, the sign was confiscated by Director of Security Keith Schiller. At that point, protester Efraín Galicia lunged at him and grabbed him from behind. Schiller swung around and delivered a punch to the man’s face, sending him reeling.

The President’s attorneys have not commented as yet in this latest effort by overreaching liberal judges to legislate, control, and besmirch the executive branch.

Watch a brief video showing the 2015 protest …


Video by Tech Time

 

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!

Success! Thank you for donating. Please share BPR content to help combat the lies.
Victor Rantala

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

BPR INSIDER COMMENTS

Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!

Latest Articles