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.