Trump accused of another quid pro quo, this time with New York

[UpInArms]

President Donald Trump appeared Thursday to link his administration's policies toward New York to a demand that the state drop investigations and lawsuits related to his administration as well as his personal business and finances.

Hours before New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was set to meet the president at the White House, Trump tweeted that Cuomo “must understand” that National Security far exceeds politics,” a reference to his administration’s recent decision to halt New York’s access to the Global Entry and other “trusted traveler” programs that allow New Yorkers faster border crossings and shorter airport lines.

Trump continued, “New York must stop all of its unnecessary lawsuits & harrassment, start cleaning itself up, and lowering taxes.”

Trump’s invocation of “lawsuits & harrassment” was a reference to the state’s numerous lawsuits against his administration and also against Trump’s business, which is based in New York.

That prompted Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), one of the House managers who prosecuted Trump’s impeachment in the Senate, to accuse the president of “expanding his abuse of power to blackmailing U.S. states (threatening millions of people he supposedly works for). In this case, he's holding New York state hostage to try to stop investigations into his prior tax fraud.”

More at:

https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2020/02/13/trump-new-york-investigations-114991

[no_hypocrisy]

1. "Lowering taxes" ? ? ? ? ! ! ! !

Maybe New York State COULD lower taxes but for:

1. Over the past two decades, the federal government has/had not CUT funding to federal programs whereby New York State had to RAISE its taxes to fund those programs, not to mention county and municipal taxes, e.g., infrastructure, clean water/clean air, education;

2. Trump's tax cuts didn't/don't limit the residents of New York State to $10,000 for its SALT deduction for federal taxes (municipal tax deduction);

3. New York State is trying to provide a modicum of relief via Medicaid and welfare to its most vulnerable residents.


Trump making a return to status quo (allowing NYS residents to enroll in an expedience program while traveling) in exchange for a burden put upon the State is out and out extortion (again).

[Delmette2.0]

8. Your first point.

This is happening all over the country. Republican controlled states don't make up the difference to their poorest citizens.

[mountain grammy]

9. Exactly.

It’s been happening for decades.

[democratisphere]

2. Just more of the same from drumpf: "I am above all laws!"

[BigmanPigman]

3. Didn't he threaten CA several times already

regarding a variety of issues. I know that CA has over 50 lawsuits against tRump right now. Is NY doing the same thing?

[ProudMNDemocrat]

4. Did Andrew Cuomo give the "A Fangule" to Trump?

That is Italian for "Fuck you Donnie".

[Marcuse]

6. No, but Tish James, the NYSAG who is suing trump, did so.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

7. Letticia James is one AG Trump cannot extort......

She will burn him.

[smirkymonkey]

10. Maybe it's not such a bright idea for Trump to fuck with the Italians.

Just saying.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

11. My last name ends in a vowel.....Capice?

My husband's Paternal grandparents were from Palermo. Settled in Midtown Manhattan in the early 1900's.

My Brother went to high school and was a friend of one Joe Bonano's Grandsons in San Jose in the 80's.

Trump is making a HUGE mistake if he messes with the Italians.

[smirkymonkey]

12. Exactly!

He acts like a two-bit gangster, but he does not really know who he is messing with when he starts to shake down Italians.

[rickyhall]

5. I'm still waiting that stroke or heart attack, if dump has one.

[Sunsky]

13. To be expected, AND it's not ok.

His Republican shield in the Senate and the DOJ, allow him to get away with everything.
However, the trampling of the rule of law by this tryrant shouldn't be brushed aside. Don't just say, Trump did this and it's to be expected. We should conclude by saying, it's not ok, it's anti-democratic or and it's a lie etc. We should not become desensitized to corruption. But, I fear that this is exactly what is happening in our country.

[struggle4progress]

14. "Nice state you got there! Real shame if something happened to it, if you know what I mean"