Trump wants to testify under oath. When he did so a decade ago, he admitted to 30 lies.
President Trump said Friday that he is "100 percent" willing to testify under oath in order to disprove the testimony delivered by his former FBI director, James Comey, last week. But when Trump testified under oath a decade ago while suing author Timothy L. O'Brien for libel, he was forced to confess 30 different lies, O'Brien recalls for Bloomberg View:
Trump's exaggerations are famous — as are his threats. Trump warned Comey that he had better "hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations" and then doubled down last week saying there would be news of the tapes in the "very near future." But O'Brien notes "Trump told me and other reporters over the years that he had a taping system in his Trump Tower office that he used to record journalists meeting with him. But when he testified under oath in the deposition for his suit against me, Trump acknowledged that he was 'not equipped to tape-record.'"
Read O'Brien's entire report at Bloomberg.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A damaged classroom, a frozen football game, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
Lucy Hughes-Hallett picks her favourite long books
The Week Recommends The cultural historian chooses works by Charles Dickens, Eleanor Catton and others
By The Week UK Published
-
Tirzah Garwood: Beyond Ravilious – an 'enchanting' show
The Week Recommends Exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery displays over 80 works of the overshadowed artist
By The Week UK Published
-
Trump DEA nominee bows out as Hegseth pick stalls
Speed Read Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister withdrew as Trump's pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
French government poised to fall amid budget fight
Speed Read Far-right and leftist opposition parties both filed motions of no confidence against Prime Minister Michel Barnier
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Biden arrives in Angola for historic Africa visit
Speed Read The president intends to strengthen U.S. ties with Africa and counter China's dominance in the region
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden pardons son Hunter
Speed Read Joe Biden has spared his son Hunter a possible prison sentence for felony gun and tax convictions
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump says he wants loyalist Kash Patel to lead FBI
Speed Read The former federal prosecutor served in senior national security roles in Trump's first administration
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire
Speed Read Both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Khan supporters converge on Islamabad
Speed Read Protesters clashing with Pakistani authorities are demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Prosecutor drops federal cases against Trump
Speed Read Special counsel Jack Smith requested to drop the charges against President-elect Donald Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published