So Trump sued the New York Times today, claiming that the Times defamed him by reporting as fact that there was a conspiracy between his campaign and Russia whereby the Russian government and Russian oligarchs assisted his campaign in exchange for favorable treatment with respect to American-Russian issues, especially sanctions.

Yes, he says he’s “going to” sue all the time.

Trump actually sued this time, rather than just issue angry threats as he does 99 times out of 100. He picked this occasion to actually sue.

Today, Team Trump filed a libel lawsuit against the New York Times over a story falsely reporting as fact a conspiracy with Russia.

Statement from @JennaEllisEsq, Senior Legal Adviser to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. below. pic.twitter.com/qqjgSjtsGt

— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) February 26, 2020

This is a campaign trick to assist Trump with the millions of questions that are going to arise with respect to his Russian relationships. They also surely believe it will make all news outlets “more careful” about reporting on Trump’s Russian issues. (Do remember that Trump’s taxes might need to be handed over as soon as June).  But mostly the Trump campaign wants to answer every Russian question with: “We’re suing them for libel!! They defamed us because it’s not true!!”

Oh that sounds all badass, and someone might be convinced that it is worth it in order to intimidate news organizations into not getting too deep into the Russian story as we head into the campaign season.

The thing that makes this unbelievably stupid – or at least short-sighted, is that every single adult knows that the defense for slander and libel: “The truth is the ultimate defense!”

So now the New York Times will get the chance to demand a chance to depose Trump, and Don Jr., and Ivanka, and Eric, and Manafort, and whoever they damn well want, to attempt to establish that Trump and the campaign did actually conspire with Russia. They will be able to ask for records, including financial records, in order to help prove their case. Phone records, travel records, …

I can assure you that the Trump campaign fervently believes that it can move to dismiss the case whenever it wants, and escape having the Trump family actually deposed or to hand over records.

But – and this is where we go from normal stupid to galactic hall of fame stupid – the New York Times can just as easily counter-sue Trump for all the times that Trump has defamed them. If the New York Times counter sues, it can keep the Trump campaign from dismissing it altogether. The Trump campaign almost has to continue to allege defamation, ensuring Trump’s deposition.

We can be near certain that Trump’s attorney have informed him of this very possibility. It is just that Trump likely cannot be deposed prior to the election, and thus he doesn’t care. Trump doesn’t think that far ahead. He may well have sown the seeds of his own destruction – even if he wins the election – by ensuring that the New York Times gets to do discovery on his background with respect to Russia.

Always a moron, and always threatening to sue – only this time it seems that the dog might catch the car.

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Peace, y’all

Jason

[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom