The legal clouds over Donald Trump’s head are darkening.

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May 21, 2021

Stephen Collinson and Caitlin Hu

'Vax and scratch'

The legal clouds over Donald Trump's head are darkening.

Two new developments in investigations into the former President's financial affairs suggest that the ex-President could be in genuine trouble. A frenzied screed that he recently issued is only adding to the perception.

CNN reported this week that New York Attorney General Letitia James joined the Manhattan District Attorney's office in a criminal probe of the Trump Organization. In another scoop, CNN's Kara Scannell and Sonia Moghe revealed that the New York AG's office has also opened a criminal tax probe investigation into Allen Weisselberg, who has taken care of the Trump Organization's finances for 40 years. Weisselberg has not been charged with a crime. But the move may be a device to pressure Weisselberg to cooperate with authorities and possibly to turn on the former President.

The Manhattan DA's office — which now has the tax returns that Trump fought so hard to cover up — is investigating whether the Trump organization misled lenders and insurance companies about the value of its properties and also whether the real estate empire paid all applicable taxes. Back in 2019, Trump's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen told a congressional committee that his old boss inflated his net worth on financial statements to feed his own ego and to secure better terms in business deals. While such activity could be a crime, Trump fans dismiss Cohen's testimony as the grievances of someone who was sent to prison.

Trump responded to the latest threats as he always does when he encounters legal trouble. He attacked justice authorities and claimed he was the victim of a vast political conspiracy from Democratic prosecutors jealous of his success. "No President has been treated the way I have. With all of the crime and corruption you read about with others, nothing happens, they only go after Donald Trump," he wrote.

But these are ominous signs for Trump, who now lacks presidential immunity from prosecution — one reason why he might have been so desperate to stay in office despite his election loss.

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'Vax and scratch'

You can't win the lottery unless you buy a ticket … or get a shot in the arm.

Maryland and New York are joining Ohio in a bid to effectively bribe Americans reluctant to get the Covid-19 vaccines with millions of bucks in new lotteries. The schemes are a response to what officials say are alarming dips in vaccination rates — with large numbers of people still unprotected from the virus, fueling fears of a resurgence come the fall.

"So remember Maryland -- get your shot for a shot to win," Gov Larry Hogan said, announcing a daily drawing for $40,000 for citizens who have already received or who will get the shot. The drawings will last 40 days and culminate in a $400,000 pot on America's birthday July 4. New York is taking a "vax and scratch" approach, by handing people who get the jab a ticket for the Empire State's $5 million mega multiplier lottery and there will be other prizes that go down to $20.

The schemes follow Ohio's plan for five drawings of $1 million, which is credited with driving an increase in vaccination rates by 28% since it was announced a week ago. Anything that gets more people vaccinated is worth a try if it ends the pandemic.

But spare a thought for the hundreds of millions of people around the world who didn't win life's lottery by being born in a country where vaccines are plentiful — and who would be more than happy to get the jab for nothing.

If he 'hugged Israel close'

With a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas brokered, Biden feels confident that his behind-the-scenes approach to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was successful, according to a person he spoke with on Thursday, CNN's Kaitlan Collins reports.

Though criticized by progressives in his own party after declining to publicly condemn the violence and for blocking repeated efforts to pass a UN Security Resolution, Biden has said his tactic of refusing to criticize Netanyahu publicly played a critical role in ending the violence faster, according to a person he discussed it with. Biden talked to Netanyahu twice Thursday, once before the ceasefire was formally brokered and once quickly afterward, according to a White House official. He did not become more combative with his Israeli counterpart until the end of the week, when he bluntly told him that the violence needed to stop. But once again, he did so privately and not publicly.

Biden felt if he "hugged Israel close," while closely engaging with them behind the scenes, he would be able to "end the violence faster," the person who spoke with Biden told CNN.

Thanks for reading.

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On Sunday, Christie's auctions the purple pink Sakura Diamond in Hong Kong. It is could fetch up to $38 million.