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Trump had two mortgages he claimed were primary dwellings, records show
Trump had two mortgages he claimed were primary dwellings, records show
President did same thing his administration is now calling ‘mortgage fraud’ in case against Fed governor Lisa Cook
Donald Trump signed mortgage documents in the 1990s claiming two separate Florida properties would each serve as his principal residence – the same thing his administration is calling “mortgage fraud” when done by political rivals, records show.
ProPublica unearthed documents demonstrating that within seven weeks of each other in late 1993 and early 1994, the president obtained loans for neighboring Palm Beach homes, pledging each would be his primary dwelling. Instead of living in them, though, he rented both out as investment properties.
There is no suggestion that the activity is or was illegal, and proving intent is key in fraud cases. Yet Trump has called the same behavior – having two primary dwelling mortgages – “deceitful and potentially criminal” in relation to mortgage fraud charges against the Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. The Trump administration is bringing several similar cases against the New York attorney general, Letitia James, the senator Adam Schiff and the congressman Eric Swalwell.
James was charged in October over a Virginia property she designated as a second home before renting out. Cook was fired after signing two primary residence mortgages weeks apart – just as Trump did.
But Trump wrote to Cook in a letter that he posted on TruthSocial announcing he had fired her that such conduct demonstrated incompetence, untrustworthiness and “gross negligence in financial transactions”.
“It is inconceivable that you were unaware of your first commitment when making the second,” he wrote, adding he had determined there was “sufficient cause” to fire her.
In 1993, the president’s real estate agent told the Miami Herald the properties would be leased annually. Shirley Wyner, who later served as rental agent for both homes, confirmed to ProPublica this week that Trump never lived in them. “They were rentals from the beginning,” she said.
Kathleen Engel, a Suffolk University law professor specializing in mortgage finance, told the outlet that the president’s own loans exceed the threshold his administration has established for fraudulent conduct.
The White House defended the transactions, noting both mortgages came from the same lender, Merrill Lynch. A spokesperson called ProPublica’s story a politically motivated attack and said Trump has never broken the law.
Comments: It's a "a politically motivated attack" when someone notes that Trump did it; it's “deceitful and potentially criminal” if others do the exact same thing. How very Trumpian.
Notes- Thanks to @Mona for bringing this to our attention. Text emphasis was added to the segment from The Guardian.
[snip] Comments: It's a "a politically motivated attack" when someone notes that Trump did it, it's “deceitful and potentially criminal” if others do the exact same thing. How very Trumpian. [snip]
It's just a matter of interpretation! Good is bad, right is wrong, truth is lie, etc.
Of course "the White House" made a lame defense. All perps make lame defenses.
The facts tell a completely different story. And anyone who knows the history of trump, is well aware that this is his way of doing business. Cutting corners, exaggerating, crossing lines, cheating for his benefit. Then daring the authorities to do something about it.
Recall that when he stole sensitive and classified documents from the White House, he made similar excuses. He was given almost a year to return everything that he stole, including the classified.
The pattern is very familiar, blame others for the exact same crimes/acts that you commit. Which is tied, psychologically, to his love for despots, fascists and authoritarian figures. His praise and affinity for Putin, Erdogen, Xi, Kim, Bin Salman, all fit this mold.
Comments
Trump had two mortgages he claimed were primary dwellings, records show
President did same thing his administration is now calling ‘mortgage fraud’ in case against Fed governor Lisa Cook
Comments: It's a "a politically motivated attack" when someone notes that Trump did it; it's “deceitful and potentially criminal” if others do the exact same thing. How very Trumpian.
Notes- Thanks to @Mona for bringing this to our attention. Text emphasis was added to the segment from The Guardian.
Good is bad, right is wrong, truth is lie, etc.
The facts tell a completely different story. And anyone who knows the history of trump, is well aware that this is his way of doing business. Cutting corners, exaggerating, crossing lines, cheating for his benefit. Then daring the authorities to do something about it.
Recall that when he stole sensitive and classified documents from the White House, he made similar excuses. He was given almost a year to return everything that he stole, including the classified.
The pattern is very familiar, blame others for the exact same crimes/acts that you commit. Which is tied, psychologically, to his love for despots, fascists and authoritarian figures. His praise and affinity for Putin, Erdogen, Xi, Kim, Bin Salman, all fit this mold.
Oh, I dunno about that. I've done pretty well on occasion.