THE ERA OF TRUMP

[Penner]

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s private attorney has sent a cease and desist letter to author Michael Wolff and publisher Henry Holt & Co. to try to halt the publication of a new book about the first year of his administration, “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House.”

“Your publication of the false/baseless statements about Mr. Trump gives rise to, among other claims, defamation by libel, defamation by libel per se, false light invasion of privacy, tortious interference and contractual relations, and inducement of breach of contract,” read the letter, which was obtained by Variety.

The letter, from attorney Charles Harder, asks that Wolff and Holt “immediately cease and desist from any further publication, release, or dissemination.”

Much of the early attention on the book has focused on quotes from Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, and the president’s response rebuking him. But in excerpts published by New York magazine and The Hollywood Reporter, as well as copies obtained by journalists, Trump is portrayed as woefully unprepared for the presidency, disparaged by the most loyal of supporters as unable to grasp even basic details of important policies.

Harder also sent a cease and desist letter to Bannon on Wednesday, including claims that Bannon violated non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements in his conversations with Wolff.

In the book, Bannon suggested that Donald Trump Jr.’s election-year meeting with a Russian lawyer who had connections to the Putin regime was “treasonous” and “unpatriotic.” Bannon was a primary source for Wolff’s book, set to be published this month by Henry Holt & Co.

A spokesperson for Henry Holt did not immediately return a request for comment. On Twitter, Wolff wrote, “Snow and fury,” as a major winter storm headed up the East Coast.

According to the excerpt published in New York magazine, Wolff conducted more than 200 interviews for the book, and had access to the West Wing in the early days of the administration. Axios reported on Thursday that Wolff has hours of recordings of his conversations with White House officials.

Trump has threatened to sue publications many times before, but he does not always follow through. That was the case in the fall of 2016, when the New York Times published allegations from a number of women alleging inappropriate sexual contact. Although his attorneys sent a cease and desist letter, no lawsuit was ever filed.

The risk for Trump in filing a lawsuit is that it would set for trial many of the claims in the book, raising the prospect of extensive depositions and testimony even from the president himself.

Complicating matters for the White House is that other reporters say they saw Wolff at the West Wing last year, as he was working on the book, with a pass that allowed him a greater degree of access to Trump administration officials. That could suggest that he was given some kind of permission to meet with senior staff.

In a defamation case, Trump, as a public figure, would have to prove that Wolff and Henry Holt had actual malice — in that they either knew the information in the book was false, or that they “reckless disregard” for whether it was true.

http://variety.com/2018/politics/news/t ... 202653092/

[Smitty-48]

See, Trump is strawmanning right now, he's saying the author is claiming he is unfit, that the book is a lie, but that's not the case, the author is simply reporting that other people said that Trump is unfit, Spicer, Conway, Bannon, Javanka etc, the author never makes an assertion about it either way.

Wolff is totally covered, Trump has zero chance of winning anything in court here, taking it to court is clearly just a smokescreen.

[StCapps]

See, Trump is strawmanning right now, he's saying the author is claiming he is unfit, that the book is a lie, but that's not the case, the author is simply reporting that other people said that Trump is unfit, Spicer, Conway, Bannon, etc, the author never makes an assertion about it either way.

Former employees lashing out at their employer, shocking stuff. Not hostile witnesses or anything, totally believable, they ring of truth.


Trump is just trashing the author and the book because he knows it paints an unflattering picture of him to most readers, facts be damned, when they aren't useful he ignores them, he's protecting his reputation.

[Smitty-48]

There's good stuff on Melania too, in broad strokes, it's basically a sham marriage, she's Trump's trophy wife, he openly says so, he talks about how hot she is and whatnot, but she seems to want to have nothing to do with him, she's all about Barron, Barron is her meal ticket, she otherwise has very little to do with Trump at all, they don't sleep in the same bed, they don't sleep in the same room, they don't even sleep in the same building, she stays as far away from the Trump clan as she can get.

[DBTrek]

See, Trump is strawmanning right now, he's saying the author is claiming he is unfit, that the book is a lie, but that's not the case, the author is simply reporting that other people said that Trump is unfit, Spicer, Conway, Bannon, etc, the author never makes an assertion about it either way.

Former employees lashing out at their employer, shocking stuff. Not hostile witnesses or anything, totally believable, they ring of truth.

Imagine if you read the book and had a foundation to argue from.
Just imagine.

[StCapps]

There's good stuff on Melania too, in broad strokes, it's basically a sham marriage, she's Trump's trophy wife, he openly says so, he talks about how hot she is and whatnot, but she seems to want to have nothing to do with him, she's all about Barron, Barron is her meal ticket, she otherwise has very little to do with Trump at all, they don't sleep in the same bed, they don't sleep in the same room, they don't even sleep in the same building, she stays as far away from the Trump clan as she can get.

That sounds believable.

[StCapps]

See, Trump is strawmanning right now, he's saying the author is claiming he is unfit, that the book is a lie, but that's not the case, the author is simply reporting that other people said that Trump is unfit, Spicer, Conway, Bannon, etc, the author never makes an assertion about it either way.

Former employees lashing out at their employer, shocking stuff. Not hostile witnesses or anything, totally believable, they ring of truth.

Imagine if you read the book and had a foundation to argue from.
Just imagine.

Maybe I'll get around to it, but when I do, I will do so with a massive grain of salt, unlike some people.

[Smitty-48]

Apparently the Trump children just think that Melania is a gold digger, they can't stand her, and she can't stand them, and she's just trying to stay out of the limelight and keep Barron out of it too.

[StCapps]

Apparently the Trump children just think that Melania is a gold digger, they can't stand her, and she can't stand them, and she's just trying to stay out of the limelight and keep Barron out of it too.

Also entirely believable. Sounds like some of the books best material.

[Smitty-48]

It's funny, because Melania is freaking out leading up to the election, and all the Trump advisers are telling her to relax, because Trump is not going to win, but Melania says; oh yes he is, and it's going to be a disaster.