Trump’s ‘the mob takes the Fifth’ remark viral after he takes the Fifth

Donald Trump, former United States President, invoked the Fifth Amendment to refuse to answer questions from the
New York Attorney General at a scheduled deposition Wednesday. The 76-year-old
was deposed by lawyers from the New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office
as part of a three-year investigation into whether the Trump Organization
misled lenders, insurers and tax authorities.

“Under the advice of my
counsel and for all of the above reasons, I declined to answer the questions
under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United
States Constitution,” Trump said in a statement.

Also Read | Donald Trump declines to answer in NY probe, invokes Fifth Amendment rights

Donald Trump’s decision to
plead the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution led to a wave of tweets with
people sharing a video in which the 45th President of the USA is
seen saying: “You see the mob takes the Fifth. If you are innocent, why are you
taking the Fifth Amendment?”

Trump made the comment in
2016 at a rally in Iowa. He was talking about Hillary Clinton, whose aides had
invoked the Fifth in a Congressional investigation.

The Fifth Amendment to the
US Constitution states:

No person shall be held to
answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentiment or
indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval
forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public
danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in
jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a
witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property, without
due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without
just compensation.

The operative part, while
pleading the fifth is: nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a
witness against himself.

Trump’s previous comments
on pleading the Fifth returned to haunt him. Thousands of Twitter users tweeted
video of Trump’s comments on the Fifth Amendment.