Posted on by Randy Slovacek

Trump Invoked 5th Amendment 400+ In NY Case

Donald Trump "claimed the Fifth" over 400 times in his testimony to New York state Attorney General Letitia James.

We all remember the many times Donald Trump repeatedly said over the years that people who “plead the Fifth Amendment are guilty.”

So, it’s pretty much comedic karma that when Trump sat for questioning last August by state Attorney General Letitia James – under oath mind you – the Donald invoked his Fifth Amendment rights over 400 times.

At the beginning of his testimony, Trump responded to questions with the prepared answer: “For all of the reasons provided in my answer, which is incorporated herein in its entirety, I decline to answer the question.”

After a few questions, Trump’s lawyer advised him to merely say, “Same answer” – “to speed things up.”

More from CBS News:

Trump did so more than 400 times during the course of the full interview, according to a New York attorney general court filing.

“This whole thing is very unfair,” Trump says in the deposition video.

“Anyone in my position not taking the Fifth Amendment would be a fool, an absolute fool,” Trump said, adding that on the advice of counsel, “I respectfully decline to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution.”

Read the full report and view part of the newly-released video footage of Trump’s testimony here.

As legal expert Rebecca Roiphe told CBS News, since this was testimony for a civil (not criminal) case, when this case goes to trial a jury would be allowed to infer that Trump’s responses claiming the Fifth were done so because answering the questions could undermine his defense.

Just for giggles, here’s a short video chronicling the many times the Donald called those who claimed the Fifth guilty.