Donald Trump has chosen to plead the Fifth Amendment in the New York Attorney General’s inquisition, but what is the right he’s criticised in the past?
Trump has been deposed by lawyers from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office as part of a more than a three-year civil investigation into whether the Trump Organization misled lenders, insurers and tax authorities by providing them misleading financial statements.
Trump Pleads Fifth Amendment
Now the former president has made a statement saying he plans to invoke his right to plead the Fifth Amendment.
He said: ‘Under the advice of my counsel and for all of the above reasons, I declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution.’
Trump went on to say in a post on his own social media platform, Truth Social, earlier on Wednesday, July 10, that he would be “seeing” James “for a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in U.S. history! My great company, and myself, are being attacked from all sides. Banana Republic!”
What is the Fifth Amendment?
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees that an individual cannot be compelled by the government to provide incriminating information about themself. It’s also considered to be a “right to remain silent.”
When a person invokes to please the fifth amendment or “takes the Fifth,” they invoke that right and refuse to answer questions or provide information that might incriminate them.
The amendment was ratified, along with nine other articles, in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights.
Trump against the Fifth Amendment
Many people have now called Trump out on deciding to invoke his right to plead the fifth as it’s since been reported the 76-year-old has previously suggested pleading the Fifth Amendment right is self-incrimination and in itself evidence of criminality – but he has recently stated he now understands why one would “take the fifth” if they were innocent.
According to CNN at a campaign stop in Iowa in 2016, Trump said: ‘If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?’
Then Morning Joe reported before Trump even decided to take the fifth he’d spoken against people using it over 400 times.