Trump Lawyers: He Had No Choice But To Blow $10K On A Painting Of Himself

[turbinetree]

Source: Talking Points Memo

President Donald Trump’s lawyers had to use a rather humiliating excuse to explain away Trump’s blowing of $10,000 from his charity on a portrait of himself in court Thursday: he had to buy it, since no one else would bid.


According to a Thursday New York Post report, Trump purchased the artwork at a 2014 charity benefit at Mar-a-Lago.

“So Mr. Trump donates $10,000 to start the bidding, and then when the bidding goes on and no one else bids, they’re stuck with the painting,” Trump attorney Alan Futerfas told Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Saliann Scarpulla.

“They’re making a mountain out of a molehill,” he added, referring to accusations by prosecutors of Trump’s misspending of the charitable money on the painting, along with using it to pay off creditors and fund his campaign.

Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-had-no-choice-portrait

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So this "guy" commits fraud by defrauding the Vets.......................using campaign funds............

See complete article:

https://nypost.com/2018/10/25/trump-used-charity-money-to-buy-his-own-portrait-because-no-one-else-would-lawyers/

[dawg day]

1. And probably deducts the cost.

I think tax fraud will trip him up. remember he referred to Capone? Tax fraud.

[louis-t]

2. Such a deal maker!

He only makes the best deals. Never a wrong move. MAGA!!

[WePurrsevere]

3. His bidding on it to get more bids could also be considered...

"shill bidding" which is illegal in FL. So basically his lawyers just told the judge Trump did something illegal to save his already overly inflated ego.

[SergeStorms]

4. None of his...

adoring children would bid higher for a portrait of daddy dear? I'd think a portrait of a man - referred to as "sent by god" by many of his rabid fans - would fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars. Surely one of his sycophants who, in the future, would reap billions in tax windfalls could cough up more than a paltry $10,000?

Even your friends (or people who you would identify as friends) don't think you're worth a shit, Little Donnie.

[Scarsdale]

14. Have you seen that portrait?

It is a joke, he is wearing shorts, a tennis sweater, and looks about 25 years old. Why did he also buy Tom Brady's football at this charity? Maybe the "charity" is the tRump family? It should be called what it is - Slush Fund.

[SergeStorms]

18. Probably the "Trump Foundation".

The "Trump Foundation" is very aptly named since it seems to be the bedrock of their crime family.

[George II]

5. He had "no other choice" than to use charity funds to pay for it? Did he leave his wallet home?

[MBS]

12. + 1000 n/t

[ChiTownDenny]

6. It's a "mountain out of a molehill" because

Trump used charitable money, not his own money, to purchase the painting.

[PatSeg]

8. Exactly!

He could have used his own money. What a lame excuse, but Trump has an excuse for everything.

[uppityperson]

7. No one else bid, hahahahaha.

Shouldn't have used charity money, but...no one else wanted it.

[peekaloo]

9. LOL

"Asshole on Black Velvet"

[Racerdog1]

10. I could have cut it up

and used it for toilet paper.

[truthisfreedom]

11. He's not worthy.

[JohnnyRingo]

13. I think that's a pretty good argument.

Considering Trump's oversized ego he likely thought the price would soar into six figures, or it wouldn't be hard to convince a jury that he did. Good lawyers.

A little harder to defend is why that seed money didn't come out of Trump's own pocket, either at the time or later upon receipt of the tasteless merch. Even then, he could have donated the painting back to the charity if he was indeed so giving.

Those big shot lawyers still have work ahead of them.

[ROB-ROX]

15. HE IS REALLY BANKRUPT (MORALLY & MONEY) AND AN IDIOT

They explained and confirmed he spent the money. Next he should be LOCKED UP for being a criminal. This will mean justice has been served........

[TNNurse]

16. yeah, but whose money did he use????

[TexasBushwhacker]

17. Exactly - he never should have used money from the charity to pay for it

The fact that Melania made the bid to get the ball rolling has nothing to do with it. When they got stuck with the painting, they should have paid for it with personal funds.