Summary of Taking Down Trump by Tristan Snell: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully

By Justin Reese

DISCLAIMER

 

This book does not in any capacity mean to replace the original book but to serve as a vast summary of the original book.

Summary of Taking Down Trump by Tristan Snell: 12 Rules for Prosecuting Donald Trump by Someone Who Did It Successfully

IN THIS SUMMARIZED BOOK, YOU WILL GET:

• Chapter astute outline of the main contents.
• Fast & simple understanding of the content analysis.
• Exceptionally summarized content that you may skip in the original book

 

Tristan Snell, a former prosecutor, offers a guide to defeating Donald Trump and other oligarchs in the cases against him. Snell, who led New York State's prosecution of Trump for defrauding hundreds of students, argues that America's systems can still bring even the richest and most powerful to justice. He lays out 12 key rules for beating Trump, including holding prosecutors accountable, standing up to Trump's public bullying, persevering against counterattacks, and getting key figures to cooperate and provide critical evidence. Snell's book is an indispensable must-read for those concerned about the Trump wilderness of fraud and fascism.

• Language: English
• Publisher: jUSTIN REESE
• Release date: Feb 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224951253

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

The author recounts their experience working at the New York Attorney General's office, where they were initially unsure if they had made a mistake. They were assigned a project about an unlicensed for-profit school called Trump University, which was a rip-off and scam. The students were believed in Donald Trump as a winner and paragon of the American Dream, but they were taken their money and left with fake diplomas and photos. The author questioned the students' beliefs and the lack of action taken against them.

The author explains that most of the time, no one does anything about a malefactor like Donald Trump. This was especially true with Trump prior to the Trump University case. He was first targeted for blatant and systematic racial discrimination in 1973, but he managed to get an entire generation of high-powered New York City prosecutors softened up with donations and co-opted with the promise of future donations. Only starting in the 2010s, with the Trump University case and the New York AG's subsequent case against the Trump Foundation, did prosecutors and litigators finally start cracking the code for taking down Trump.

The author shares the blueprint for how to make that happen in their book, which shares the blueprint for how to make that happen.

The author shares his experience leading an investigation into Trump University, which resulted in a $25 million settlement in 2016 and the first major loss for Donald Trump in a court case. The case almost didn't happen at all, as Trump refused to produce the documents he was obligated to produce. The will and commitment to bring a case against a powerful target like Trump is crucial, as demonstrated by Eric Schneiderman, the New York Attorney General at the time.

The author explains that prosecutors are humans with imperfections and often politicians, which exacerbates the problem. Trump's strengths lie in manipulating weak and insecure individuals, making him a strong target for manipulation. This serves as a playbook for the real world, where flawed public officials can be drawn to the dark side or coaxed into using their prosecutorial powers for good.

The author outlines the legal tactics needed to defeat someone like Trump, including getting the necessary evidence, convincing people to cooperate, and overcoming obstacles. The lessons are specific to cases against Trump or a Trump-like figure of power, resources, and a lack of scruples.

The author emphasizes the importance of starting with a clean slate, no preconceived notions, and grounding a case firmly in evidence of illegality. The genesis of a case usually comes from complaints or suspicion, but without fuel, the spark will die out.

The Attorney General's office began investigating the Trump University case in October 2011, based on initial signs of potential misconduct. The investigation was not aimed at taking down Trump, but rather to fill a blank slate. The investigators set a goal of 50 witnesses, but after hearing heartbreaking stories from victims, they decided to reach 63. The investigation revealed that 87 of the 100 students were dissatisfied and reported gross misrepresentations and deceptions. They were told to call their credit