ABC News tonight briefly repurposed its newscast as a platform from which to derive and convey to their audience the indulgement of the news division’s schadenfreude over the potential seizure of Trump properties, in enforcement the $355 million civil judgment against the former president. This episode had as its special guest star, New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Watch the end of the report, which dismissed concerns over the unintended consequences of the ruling, and indulged in some light confiscation porn:
AARON KATERSKY: Trump said the penalty against him would drive other businesses out of New York.
DONALD TRUMP: We'll appeal. We'll be successful. I think, because frankly, if we're not successful, New York state is gone.
KATERSKY: But the state's attorney general told us she's not worried.
LETITIA JAMES: Last I checked, tourism is up. Wall Street is doing just fine.
KATERSKY: Even with an impending appeal, Trump must either put all $355 million in escrow with the court or post a portion of it as a bond with interest. And David, tonight, the attorney general is telling us she is determined to make Trump pay, even if it means seizing this building or others long in the Trump portfolio.
Aaron Katersky’s dispatch ends with a live shot in front of 40 Wall Street, one of Trump’s signature properties. If nothing else, Katersky displays restraint against doing the money shot in front of Trump Tower.
Not much was actually shown of the interview with James, other than her dismissals of idea that she just prosecuted “victimless crimes”, her confiscatory thirst, and her dismissal of the idea that this judgment will have a chilling effect upon business in New York. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to convey the desire to seize property:
JAMES: If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets.
The report, of course, gives no voice to those skeptical of the verdict or concerned over its potential far-reaching (and unintended consequences). There is only a platform for James and for confiscation.
Some might say that the “regime media” reference is harsh. But what else does one call an outlet that lends itself to parrot those who would weaponize government against the political opposition?
Click “expand” to view the full transcript of the aforementioned report as aired on ABC World News Tonight on Tuesday, February 20th, 2004:
DAVID MUIR: We're going to turn now to the ABC News exclusive tonight. After Donald Trump was fined $355 million in his civil fraud case, tonight New York state’s attorney general Letitia James saying she’s prepared to seize Donald Trump's assets, including his buildings, if he doesn't pay the money. ABC's Aaron Katersky one-on-one tonight with the attorney general.
AARON KATERSKY: Four days after a judge ordered Donald Trump to pay $355 million for a decade of fraud, New York attorney general Letitia James says she's prepared to do everything she can to make sure the former president pays his fine, including, she told us, seizing the buildings that bear his name.
LETITIA JAMES: If he does not have funds to pay off the judgment, then we will seek, you know, judgment enforcement mechanisms in court, and we will ask the judge to seize his assets.
KATERSKY: Trump was held liable for exaggerating his wealth and inflating the value of his real estate so banks would give him low-interest loans. Trump insisted the banks liked doing business with him. They said, "No victim, no one got harmed, the banks got paid back. So no harm, no foul." Why is that not the case?
JAMES: So, financial frauds are not victimless crimes. He engaged in this massive amount of fraud. And it wasn't just a simple mistake, a slight oversight, the variations were wildly exaggerated, and the extent of the fraud was staggering.
KATERSKY: Trump said the penalty against him would drive other businesses out of New York.
DONALD TRUMP: We'll appeal. We'll be successful. I think, because frankly, if we're not successful, New York state is gone.
KATERSKY: But the state's attorney general told us she's not worried.
JAMES: Last I checked, tourism is up. Wall Street is doing just fine.
KATERSKY: Even with an impending appeal, Trump must either put all $355 million in escrow with the court or post a portion of it as a bond with interest. And David, tonight, the attorney general is telling us she is determined to make Trump pay, even if it means seizing this building or others long in the Trump portfolio. David?
MUIR: Aaron Katersky tonight, thank you.
