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People vs. Donald Trump: An Inside Account
People vs. Donald Trump
is a fascinating inside account of the attempt to prosecute former president Donald Trump, written by one of the lawyers who worked on the case and resigned in protest when Manhattan’s district attorney refused to act.
Mark Pomerantz was a retired lawyer living a calm suburban life when he accepted an unexpected offer to join the staff of the district attorney of New York County in February 2021 to work on the investigation of former president Donald Trump. The Manhattan DA was interested in Pomerantz because he brought vast experience in litigating white collar and organized crime cases, having worked as a federal prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney for decades. Pomerantz had prosecuted and defended cases involving murder, drug trafficking, political corruption, tax evasion, and financial fraud. His clients had included governors and senators, business leaders, financial institutions, and also gangsters and murderers.
Over the next year, Pomerantz investigated the world of Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. He interviewed potential witnesses, scrutinized financial records, and learned everything he could about Trump’s business practices. The investigation led him to believe that the former president’s approach to business had much in common with the business practices of another well-known public figure—former mob boss John J. Gotti. Ultimately, Pomerantz gathered enough evidence to support the view—held by many of his colleagues on the case, including former Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.—that former president Donald Trump should be indicted for a number of financial crimes. But that indictment never happened. This book explains why.
Pomerantz’s work ultimately led to the indictment of the Trump Organization and Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, who pleaded guilty to tax fraud. But that indictment was merely the prelude to a larger criminal case that Pomerantz urged the Manhattan DA, Alvin Bragg, to bring against Donald Trump. When the DA refused to authorize that prosecution, Pomerantz and his colleague Carey Dunne resigned. Aspects of the case Pomerantz wanted to bring are currently being pursued against Trump by the attorney general of New York State in a civil fraud case that does not involve criminal penalties.
In People vs. Donald Trump, Pomerantz tells the story of his unprecedented investigation, why he believes Donald Trump should be prosecuted, and what we can learn about the nature of justice in America from this extraordinary case. Pomerantz draws from a lifetime of legal experience to tell a devastating and frequently entertaining story of how prosecutors think, how criminals act, and how our justice system works—and sometimes doesn’t work. Pomerantz has written a cautionary tale that illuminates the challenges of prosecuting Donald Trump, why Trump manages to dance between the raindrops of accountability, and how others might bring him to justice.
Mark Pomerantz was a retired lawyer living a calm suburban life when he accepted an unexpected offer to join the staff of the district attorney of New York County in February 2021 to work on the investigation of former president Donald Trump. The Manhattan DA was interested in Pomerantz because he brought vast experience in litigating white collar and organized crime cases, having worked as a federal prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney for decades. Pomerantz had prosecuted and defended cases involving murder, drug trafficking, political corruption, tax evasion, and financial fraud. His clients had included governors and senators, business leaders, financial institutions, and also gangsters and murderers.
Over the next year, Pomerantz investigated the world of Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. He interviewed potential witnesses, scrutinized financial records, and learned everything he could about Trump’s business practices. The investigation led him to believe that the former president’s approach to business had much in common with the business practices of another well-known public figure—former mob boss John J. Gotti. Ultimately, Pomerantz gathered enough evidence to support the view—held by many of his colleagues on the case, including former Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.—that former president Donald Trump should be indicted for a number of financial crimes. But that indictment never happened. This book explains why.
Pomerantz’s work ultimately led to the indictment of the Trump Organization and Allen Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, who pleaded guilty to tax fraud. But that indictment was merely the prelude to a larger criminal case that Pomerantz urged the Manhattan DA, Alvin Bragg, to bring against Donald Trump. When the DA refused to authorize that prosecution, Pomerantz and his colleague Carey Dunne resigned. Aspects of the case Pomerantz wanted to bring are currently being pursued against Trump by the attorney general of New York State in a civil fraud case that does not involve criminal penalties.
In People vs. Donald Trump, Pomerantz tells the story of his unprecedented investigation, why he believes Donald Trump should be prosecuted, and what we can learn about the nature of justice in America from this extraordinary case. Pomerantz draws from a lifetime of legal experience to tell a devastating and frequently entertaining story of how prosecutors think, how criminals act, and how our justice system works—and sometimes doesn’t work. Pomerantz has written a cautionary tale that illuminates the challenges of prosecuting Donald Trump, why Trump manages to dance between the raindrops of accountability, and how others might bring him to justice.
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Published February 7, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
February 9, 2023
I can now understand why DA Alvin Bragg tried to keep this book from being published, considering it does not appear to contain anything that would jeopardize a potential prosecution — this book does not paint a flattering picture of Bragg. At all. Alvin Bragg is someone I probably would’ve voted for if I lived in NYC; he was endorsed by Preet Bharara, someone I admire and respect. However, if what the author writes is accurate, he would certainly not be my choice for DA the next time. How different things would’ve been if Cy Vance ran for reelection just one more time — indictments would’ve come down a year ago. So a good takeaway is elections matter, who is elected DA matters.
March 13, 2023
One of the more interesting of the myriad books on the criminal organization that is the Trump family. This one focuses on why, after an exhaustive investigation, the newly-elected Manhattan DA decided to not bring charges against Trump despite having loads of evidence that likely would have resulted in a conviction. The author, as one of the investigators, emphatically disagreed with this decision, saying that failure to do so would only reinforce the public’s perception that the law is not equally enforced in America. And he was 100% right.
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March 3, 2023Some days I wish I had finished law school; most days I don’t.
March 4, 2023
People vs. Donald Trump is Mark Pomerantz’s cri de coeur—cry from the heart—about the need to “apply the rule of the law to rich and powerful people.” Mr. Pomerantz, an experienced and respected prosecutor, worked for no pay in the Manhattan DA’s office to put together a case against the former president. He meticulously and compellingly describes gathering facts and testimony that he believed would lead to an indictment and conviction. Even if with a chance of losing, Pomerantz wrote to Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg, there was “the need to confront a possible miscarriage of justice, and a lack of accountability for criminal conduct.” The D.A.’s office threatened Simon and Schuster about publishing the book. After reading it, I would conjecture that the motivation behind the letter was fear of embarrassment, not disclosure of confidential information. Highly recommended. (Mark Pomerantz was a college classmate of mine, but I do not know him.)
June 20, 2023
#PeopleVsDonaldTrump – Mark Pomerantz
#SimonAndSchuster
#JonathanBall
Seasoned prosecutor and veteran defense attorney Mark Pomerantz was happily retired, doing nothing and not doing that nothing until noon (3), when he was requested to join forces with Cy Vance, the then District Attorney of New York, and his team working on an unprecedented investigation of former president Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. Pomerantz was sworn in via Zoom on 2 February 2021. His brief: to gather sufficient evidence to indict Trump for various financial crimes. This memoir is an insider’s account of the next year in his life, concluding with his resignation in early 2022.
Pomerantz ‘s writing centers around two main aspects: providing background regarding the nature of the alleged transgressions and explaining the inner workings of the American Justice System. After securing a Supreme Court judgment rejecting Trump’s claim that his presidential status ensured constitutional immunity from subpoenas seeking information relating to potential criminal conduct on 9 July 2020, and the refusal of Trump’s request for a stay thereof on 22 February 2021, the scrutinizing of his financial records could finally commence.
Several alleged transgressions were to be investigated to establish whether the combination thereof would justify a charge of enterprise corruption. There was the so-called ‘Zombie’-case that rose from the dead several times, namely the hush money paid to Stephanie Clifford by Michael Cohen; the various tax avoidance schemes involving Allen Weisselberg; Steven Banon’s fraud involving ‘We Build the Wall’ and Trump’s propensity to provide inaccurate figures. Examples of the latter involved both inflated and deflated numbers, in the case of his triplex apartment on top of Trump Tower he claimed that it was valued at $327 million and measured 30 000 square feet, whilst the correct value was $60 million and the size only 10 996 square feet. In the case of his building situated at 40 Wall Street, he did the exact opposite, estimating the value of his interest to be $16-19 million, whilst the correct figure was closer to $527 million.
The second aspect receiving detailed attention in this riveting memoir is the American legal system. It is essential to understand concepts like jurisdiction, the burden of proof, what constitutes admissible evidence, causation, the overlapping of federal and local investigations, the requirements for indictments, the functions of the grand jury, and the elements of crime to grasp the outcome of this investigation. Therein lies the true appeal of this publication: it is neither a political witch hunt, nor an attempt to exonerate any party; it is merely a factual summary of the legal mechanics and is thus highly recommended for readers interested in the why and how.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek
#SimonAndSchuster
#JonathanBall
Seasoned prosecutor and veteran defense attorney Mark Pomerantz was happily retired, doing nothing and not doing that nothing until noon (3), when he was requested to join forces with Cy Vance, the then District Attorney of New York, and his team working on an unprecedented investigation of former president Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. Pomerantz was sworn in via Zoom on 2 February 2021. His brief: to gather sufficient evidence to indict Trump for various financial crimes. This memoir is an insider’s account of the next year in his life, concluding with his resignation in early 2022.
Pomerantz ‘s writing centers around two main aspects: providing background regarding the nature of the alleged transgressions and explaining the inner workings of the American Justice System. After securing a Supreme Court judgment rejecting Trump’s claim that his presidential status ensured constitutional immunity from subpoenas seeking information relating to potential criminal conduct on 9 July 2020, and the refusal of Trump’s request for a stay thereof on 22 February 2021, the scrutinizing of his financial records could finally commence.
Several alleged transgressions were to be investigated to establish whether the combination thereof would justify a charge of enterprise corruption. There was the so-called ‘Zombie’-case that rose from the dead several times, namely the hush money paid to Stephanie Clifford by Michael Cohen; the various tax avoidance schemes involving Allen Weisselberg; Steven Banon’s fraud involving ‘We Build the Wall’ and Trump’s propensity to provide inaccurate figures. Examples of the latter involved both inflated and deflated numbers, in the case of his triplex apartment on top of Trump Tower he claimed that it was valued at $327 million and measured 30 000 square feet, whilst the correct value was $60 million and the size only 10 996 square feet. In the case of his building situated at 40 Wall Street, he did the exact opposite, estimating the value of his interest to be $16-19 million, whilst the correct figure was closer to $527 million.
The second aspect receiving detailed attention in this riveting memoir is the American legal system. It is essential to understand concepts like jurisdiction, the burden of proof, what constitutes admissible evidence, causation, the overlapping of federal and local investigations, the requirements for indictments, the functions of the grand jury, and the elements of crime to grasp the outcome of this investigation. Therein lies the true appeal of this publication: it is neither a political witch hunt, nor an attempt to exonerate any party; it is merely a factual summary of the legal mechanics and is thus highly recommended for readers interested in the why and how.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek
February 18, 2023
5/7. Reading about Donald Trump's misdeeds is like trying to drink from a firehose of malfeasance. There's just way too much to keep track of, so I enjoyed reading about this one slice of one investigation of a few of his crimes. I understand why Bragg would not be happy about this 'tea spilling.' I understand Pomerantz's frustration. It probably would have been the better decision to prosecute these acts of fraud, primarily to show that no one is above the law (which is the author's main argument). This was a quick read and an interesting perspective.
April 22, 2023
WOW! What a fascinating and beautifully written book. I highly recommend it!
April 15, 2023
WOW WOW WOW. What a super read. While the book is entitled People vs. Donald Trump it is really only about 50% about the lead up to the New York District Attorney's office decision to prosecute Trump. In an eminently readable and understandable to the lay person manner he details the differences between state and federal prosecutions, what leads up to those different entities deciding whether or not to prosecute, how witnesses may be vetted and how financial crimes are determined. He gives his readers a history and lesson in the law that anyone can understand. This is one of those books that should be required reading in the older junior high and senior high students as well as college history, education or law classes. It should be required reading in law school criminal law classes.
Pomerantz isn't all about him and how great he is -- indeed, he openly discusses where he can see maybe he should have taken a different path. He gives credit where it is due to other involved parties. He lays out weakness and strengths in Michael Cohen.
His writing style is engaging. You are drawn into the story as if you are reading a super fictional account -- but this is the real deal. If Mr. Pomerantz decided to turn his retirement into writing fiction he'd deliver some spectacular reads.
Pomerantz isn't all about him and how great he is -- indeed, he openly discusses where he can see maybe he should have taken a different path. He gives credit where it is due to other involved parties. He lays out weakness and strengths in Michael Cohen.
His writing style is engaging. You are drawn into the story as if you are reading a super fictional account -- but this is the real deal. If Mr. Pomerantz decided to turn his retirement into writing fiction he'd deliver some spectacular reads.
June 29, 2023
In February 2021, retired lawyer Mark Pomerantz was asked to join the New York Country District Attorney office as a special assistant to work, pro bono, on the investigation of Donald Trump’s financial actions.
Pomerantz had a strong history of investigating white collar and organized crime cases. The investigation uncovered enough evidence that Trump should be indicted for several financial crimes. It was in the same category as the charges against mob boss, John Gotti. Also working on the case was Cyrus Vance , Jr. Manhattan District Attorney for many years.
Some of the evidence included Trump claiming the value his interest in his building at 40 Wall Street was $527. When it came to paying property taxes, the amount he listed was between $16 and $19 million. The yearly rental was more than $40 million and net operating income was above $20 million. The response from the city’s law department was that everybody does that to lower property taxes. It was considered the start of negotiations, but there was no follow-up.
In PEOPLE VS. DONALD TRUMP, Pomerantz explains the various government legal departments (state, federal, district, city) working on the case: How they operated (often independently and sometimes at odds), how they had different goals based on the laws covering them, and their restrictions. Some differences are the ability to use of grand juries, what information was permissible, the types of sentences they could recommend, and how they decided whether to pursue the case in court.
The office had been focusing on The Trump Organization and Allen Weisselberg, the long-time CEO of the Organization. By the time Vance was going to voluntarily leave his position at the end of the year. Pomerantz and many of the others working on the case were convinced that there was sufficient evidence to charge Trump personally.
Vance was replaced by Alvin Bragg. However, by the time he was selected in November and then sworn in in January 2022, neither Bragg nor anyone on his team had talked with those who had been working on the case. This lack of conferring lead to Bragg deciding to not authorize continuing the prosecution.
In February, Pomerantz and Carey Dunne resigned in disgust and frustration. All of Trump’s actions that could lead to criminal charges were dropped. Even if they weren’t able to convince a jury, they believed the public wanted an accounting of his actions. Therefore, this book. Reading the book is a way to learn what should have been done, why it wasn’t, and question why it was not. Hopefully, the future will be different.
Pomerantz had a strong history of investigating white collar and organized crime cases. The investigation uncovered enough evidence that Trump should be indicted for several financial crimes. It was in the same category as the charges against mob boss, John Gotti. Also working on the case was Cyrus Vance , Jr. Manhattan District Attorney for many years.
Some of the evidence included Trump claiming the value his interest in his building at 40 Wall Street was $527. When it came to paying property taxes, the amount he listed was between $16 and $19 million. The yearly rental was more than $40 million and net operating income was above $20 million. The response from the city’s law department was that everybody does that to lower property taxes. It was considered the start of negotiations, but there was no follow-up.
In PEOPLE VS. DONALD TRUMP, Pomerantz explains the various government legal departments (state, federal, district, city) working on the case: How they operated (often independently and sometimes at odds), how they had different goals based on the laws covering them, and their restrictions. Some differences are the ability to use of grand juries, what information was permissible, the types of sentences they could recommend, and how they decided whether to pursue the case in court.
The office had been focusing on The Trump Organization and Allen Weisselberg, the long-time CEO of the Organization. By the time Vance was going to voluntarily leave his position at the end of the year. Pomerantz and many of the others working on the case were convinced that there was sufficient evidence to charge Trump personally.
Vance was replaced by Alvin Bragg. However, by the time he was selected in November and then sworn in in January 2022, neither Bragg nor anyone on his team had talked with those who had been working on the case. This lack of conferring lead to Bragg deciding to not authorize continuing the prosecution.
In February, Pomerantz and Carey Dunne resigned in disgust and frustration. All of Trump’s actions that could lead to criminal charges were dropped. Even if they weren’t able to convince a jury, they believed the public wanted an accounting of his actions. Therefore, this book. Reading the book is a way to learn what should have been done, why it wasn’t, and question why it was not. Hopefully, the future will be different.
April 29, 2024
Now the New York criminal trial with Donald Trump is under way, I wondered if I could find what was different about the evidence of the case between what had been developed in 2021 and 2022 and now - what was it that changed that convinced NY DA Bragg to bring charges now. I still do not have an answer. Of course there is much evidence Mark Pomerantz doesn't discuss because of the secrecy of the grand jury and prosecutorial process, but it sure seems the District Attorneys office exposed the structure of the case against Trump two years ago.
While I wasn't able to find what had changed to warrant bringing the case now, Pomerantz does reveal a sobering underbelly of the justice system. It took the DA NY's office two years of concentrated teamwork to show the financial fraud of the Trump organization. And it wasn't just the DA NY's office looking. The NY AG also had a team on it, as well as the SDNY in the Justice Department. If this is the effort it takes to reveal the fraud committed by just one company, imagine the resources required to investigate just 1% of the companies required to file business reports with the state. The wide-spread fraud committed by the Trump Organization tears at the illusionary veil of corporate legal compliance our society has created.
I know many, if not the great majority of, businesses do not operate in a fraudulent manner. But I also am certain the Trump Organization is not the only one operating outside the bounds of the law. Pomerantz shows how the Trump case is a textbook of how the American justice system has at least two tiers. If you have the money to have the attorneys, you can utilize a strategy of delay through motions and appeals that can span the terms of prosecutors. You can make use of media to lobby against enforcing laws. Did anyone ever argue that Al Capone shouldn't be prosecuted, Son of Sam, The Unibomber?
These are sobering thoughts. While none of us like traffice court, we generally agree traffice laws have a pretty good chance of being fairly applied to the driving public. But "People vs. Donald Trump" shows how the very system is unable to bring to account certain types of crime and criminals.
Pomerantz writes with an engaging, personal conversational style which I quite enjoyed. I liked seeing how such investigations affect the investigators, and it's not just the delayed vacations and interrupted weekends, but also driving people to want to stay part of the team even though it may negatively impact their careers. The people doing this work deserve all the respect we can give them. "People vs. Donald Trump" is worth reading and reflecting upon.
While I wasn't able to find what had changed to warrant bringing the case now, Pomerantz does reveal a sobering underbelly of the justice system. It took the DA NY's office two years of concentrated teamwork to show the financial fraud of the Trump organization. And it wasn't just the DA NY's office looking. The NY AG also had a team on it, as well as the SDNY in the Justice Department. If this is the effort it takes to reveal the fraud committed by just one company, imagine the resources required to investigate just 1% of the companies required to file business reports with the state. The wide-spread fraud committed by the Trump Organization tears at the illusionary veil of corporate legal compliance our society has created.
I know many, if not the great majority of, businesses do not operate in a fraudulent manner. But I also am certain the Trump Organization is not the only one operating outside the bounds of the law. Pomerantz shows how the Trump case is a textbook of how the American justice system has at least two tiers. If you have the money to have the attorneys, you can utilize a strategy of delay through motions and appeals that can span the terms of prosecutors. You can make use of media to lobby against enforcing laws. Did anyone ever argue that Al Capone shouldn't be prosecuted, Son of Sam, The Unibomber?
These are sobering thoughts. While none of us like traffice court, we generally agree traffice laws have a pretty good chance of being fairly applied to the driving public. But "People vs. Donald Trump" shows how the very system is unable to bring to account certain types of crime and criminals.
Pomerantz writes with an engaging, personal conversational style which I quite enjoyed. I liked seeing how such investigations affect the investigators, and it's not just the delayed vacations and interrupted weekends, but also driving people to want to stay part of the team even though it may negatively impact their careers. The people doing this work deserve all the respect we can give them. "People vs. Donald Trump" is worth reading and reflecting upon.
September 19, 2024
Having read this, I can see why Alvin Bragg would not want this published - at the time. It talks about evidence gathering and other things that he might not have wanted the Trump lawyers to know.
I think the farther we get away from the Cy Vance prosecution of Donald Trump, and Alan Bragg's coming into office, this book seems misplaced. It was published one month before Alvin Bragg brought a 34-count indictment against Donald Trump. Bragg went on to win the case against Trump in June 2024.
While I understand why Pomerantz authored this book, the last few chapters go on to drag Alvin Bragg for not prosecuting Trump on Pomerantz's timeline. He goes on to thank his wife for helping him not seem too "haughty" in the book. The phrase that comes to mind is "too late". That is exactly what the last third of the book sounds like.
It's a nice insider account of what happened in the investigation of Donald Trump under Cy Vance's reign as District Attorney of New York County.
I think the farther we get away from the Cy Vance prosecution of Donald Trump, and Alan Bragg's coming into office, this book seems misplaced. It was published one month before Alvin Bragg brought a 34-count indictment against Donald Trump. Bragg went on to win the case against Trump in June 2024.
While I understand why Pomerantz authored this book, the last few chapters go on to drag Alvin Bragg for not prosecuting Trump on Pomerantz's timeline. He goes on to thank his wife for helping him not seem too "haughty" in the book. The phrase that comes to mind is "too late". That is exactly what the last third of the book sounds like.
It's a nice insider account of what happened in the investigation of Donald Trump under Cy Vance's reign as District Attorney of New York County.
March 5, 2023
Interesting information, but I got lost in the numbers a lot of the time. I like the timeline for context, but I felt like it could have been summarized more than it was. I get the point was to lay it all out, and while I felt like I got the point it was hard for a non-lawyer person to stay attentive on the book
April 14, 2023
Straightforward account inside Manhattan District Attorney's Office on criminal investigation. While nothing was particularly surprising, provided a glimpse into inner workings of the team and the numerous cases that could be brought against Trump.
November 13, 2023
Informative.
September 5, 2023
And interesting recounting of the criminal investigations into Donald Trump and his organizations. Clearly written and fast-paced, but a little boring. Author is a little self-important. But if you’re infested in the backstory of the investigations and reasons he was never indicted (at least at that stage), it’s an interesting read.
August 15, 2023
For the New York criminal investigation of The Trump Organization, Pomerantz was sworn in as a special assistant district attorney (DA) in the office of New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., to assist with that office's criminal investigation into the personal and business finances of former president Donald Trump. He came out of retirement to do this as a public service and during this time the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Trump's last appeal against a subpoena for his financial records. Trump's tax returns and other documents were released to the DA for use in its investigation, including possible use in obtaining grand jury subpoenas. On February 23, 2022, Pomerantz resigned from his role as special assistant to the New York County District Attorney. Carey R. Dunne, who was also leading the investigation of Trump, also resigned. In his letter of resignation, Pomerantz expressed frustration at the decision of the new Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, to not pursue an indictment of Trump. Pomerantz said there was "evidence sufficient to establish Mr. Trump’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt" and that "the public interest warrants the criminal prosecution of Mr. Trump." Closing his letter, Pomerantz wrote: "I fear that your decision means that Mr. Trump will not be held fully accountable for his crimes. I have worked too hard as a lawyer, and for too long, now to become a passive participant in what I believe to be a grave failure of justice. I therefore resign from my position as a Special Assistant District Attorney, effective immediately." I have long been interested to know such details that led to his decision to resign. He makes legal points here about how a federal investigation would have been better due to the federal laws better fitting the false financial statements from Trump. He also goes into detail on what they uncovered in exaggerated valuations for personal gain. This includes the difficulty under state law without a financially affected victim (merely being dishonest is enough for federal law). Still, he felt strongly that a case should be pursued and also that Bragg was not willing to pursue one. It feels in the book that there was really a lack of comity in a dysfunctional workplace, but indeed Bragg did present evidence to a grand jury regarding Trump's role in the hush money payment. Trump was indicted and arraigned.] Trump pleaded not guilty. It was the first indictment of a former president in United States history.
Would this had happened without the Pomerantz resignation? I don't know that that is the case.
Would this had happened without the Pomerantz resignation? I don't know that that is the case.
June 16, 2023
I listened to the 9-hour audio version of this title (read by the author, Simon & Schuster Audio, 2023).
I approached this book, yet another account of Donald Trump's crimes before, during, and after his presidency, with low expectations, but found it surprisingly well-written and informative. I emerged with a detailed understanding of Trump's business dealings, producing financial ruin for a large number of actors and stealing from American tax-payers, as Trump himself secured and improved his position on Forbes list of billionaires.
The book also reinforced my views on the US justice system being broken, punishing petty criminals severely and promptly, while letting rich and powerful criminals escape unscathed. George Floyd, who passed off a fake $20 bill, was "executed" within hours of his crime. Donald Trump's financial crimes, including money-laundering to hide the payment of hush money to a porn star, took years to prosecute, as the case was shelved and resurrected multiple times. The crime occurred in 2016; as of mid-2023, the case is still in progress, with no resolution in sight.
From his media appearances, I had developed a picture of Pomerantz as an opportunist and self-aggrandizer, particularly given that he took on the Trump case at SDNY gratis. He explains in the book that he was retired at the time and needed no additional income or the hassles of reporting it.
Pomerantz and other members of the SDNY team eventually developed a strong case against Trump and convinced Cyrus Vance, Manhattan District Attorney at the time, to indict him, but, because Vance did not seek reelection as his term ended, the case fell under the jurisdiction of his replacement, Alvin Bragg, who was not comfortable with pursuing an indictment. Part of the problem was that Trump's financial crimes had no obvious victims. Yes, banks were duped by Trump's false financial disclosures into giving him large loans with favorable terms, but no bank suffered a default.
Pomerantz resigned in protest and wrote this book to present his case to the "People." Bragg eventually reversed his decision, indicting Trump in April 2023, just as this book was released. The trial is set for March 2024, but there is a chance it will be delayed as a result of defense motions or upcoming indictments of Trump for federal crimes.
I approached this book, yet another account of Donald Trump's crimes before, during, and after his presidency, with low expectations, but found it surprisingly well-written and informative. I emerged with a detailed understanding of Trump's business dealings, producing financial ruin for a large number of actors and stealing from American tax-payers, as Trump himself secured and improved his position on Forbes list of billionaires.
The book also reinforced my views on the US justice system being broken, punishing petty criminals severely and promptly, while letting rich and powerful criminals escape unscathed. George Floyd, who passed off a fake $20 bill, was "executed" within hours of his crime. Donald Trump's financial crimes, including money-laundering to hide the payment of hush money to a porn star, took years to prosecute, as the case was shelved and resurrected multiple times. The crime occurred in 2016; as of mid-2023, the case is still in progress, with no resolution in sight.
From his media appearances, I had developed a picture of Pomerantz as an opportunist and self-aggrandizer, particularly given that he took on the Trump case at SDNY gratis. He explains in the book that he was retired at the time and needed no additional income or the hassles of reporting it.
Pomerantz and other members of the SDNY team eventually developed a strong case against Trump and convinced Cyrus Vance, Manhattan District Attorney at the time, to indict him, but, because Vance did not seek reelection as his term ended, the case fell under the jurisdiction of his replacement, Alvin Bragg, who was not comfortable with pursuing an indictment. Part of the problem was that Trump's financial crimes had no obvious victims. Yes, banks were duped by Trump's false financial disclosures into giving him large loans with favorable terms, but no bank suffered a default.
Pomerantz resigned in protest and wrote this book to present his case to the "People." Bragg eventually reversed his decision, indicting Trump in April 2023, just as this book was released. The trial is set for March 2024, but there is a chance it will be delayed as a result of defense motions or upcoming indictments of Trump for federal crimes.
April 7, 2023
Book Review: People vs. Donald Trump, by Mark Pomerantz
Pomerantz' book on Trump is a virtuoso summary of a complex, egocentric, clever and corrupt man who, to this time has escaped legal judgement. (At this writing this may change with his recent indictment for the first of many ongoing investigations.) Trump's assets are considerable, built by family wealth at the start, augmented by television fame and brash bravado, and based on loans supported by false estimates of value. While Trump has refused to honor many debts to small and medium-sized loaners, and all large American banks have declined to loan money to Trump, no losses to date have been taken by Deutsche Bank, his primary lender.
Trump's behavior in this admittedly unfavorable book is described as that of a ruthless bully - cunning, with absolute (one-way) loyalty required - in short similar to a crime boss and not unlike John Gotti in many ways. But unlike Gotti, Trump is not a common criminal, killer, or drug dealer. He has a legitimate business that augments operations with ongoing and repeated criminal activity through systematic over-valuation of real estate properties to secure more financing along with dramatic undervaluing for purposes of real-estate taxes. His mantra: no victims thus no fraud. Trump is described as an "inveterate liar, firmly established by long practice."
In terms of style, Pomerantz's habit of using only first-names of many people gets old fast and for one I lost the ability to remember the blizzard of who was who ... it's a bad writing technique. But on the whole, it's almost inconceivable that roughly half of the country voted for this man, who tried seriously to steal the election of 2020. Of that half, two-thirds of them are fervently loyal through thick and thin. Historians will ponder how such a man came to the Presidency and nearly repeated in office, never giving up his loss and still in the arena!
Pomerantz' book on Trump is a virtuoso summary of a complex, egocentric, clever and corrupt man who, to this time has escaped legal judgement. (At this writing this may change with his recent indictment for the first of many ongoing investigations.) Trump's assets are considerable, built by family wealth at the start, augmented by television fame and brash bravado, and based on loans supported by false estimates of value. While Trump has refused to honor many debts to small and medium-sized loaners, and all large American banks have declined to loan money to Trump, no losses to date have been taken by Deutsche Bank, his primary lender.
Trump's behavior in this admittedly unfavorable book is described as that of a ruthless bully - cunning, with absolute (one-way) loyalty required - in short similar to a crime boss and not unlike John Gotti in many ways. But unlike Gotti, Trump is not a common criminal, killer, or drug dealer. He has a legitimate business that augments operations with ongoing and repeated criminal activity through systematic over-valuation of real estate properties to secure more financing along with dramatic undervaluing for purposes of real-estate taxes. His mantra: no victims thus no fraud. Trump is described as an "inveterate liar, firmly established by long practice."
In terms of style, Pomerantz's habit of using only first-names of many people gets old fast and for one I lost the ability to remember the blizzard of who was who ... it's a bad writing technique. But on the whole, it's almost inconceivable that roughly half of the country voted for this man, who tried seriously to steal the election of 2020. Of that half, two-thirds of them are fervently loyal through thick and thin. Historians will ponder how such a man came to the Presidency and nearly repeated in office, never giving up his loss and still in the arena!
May 14, 2024
A really thorough and interesting first hand account from someone who knows the ins and outs of the legal cases against Donald Trump concerning his fraudulent financial documents. I went in hoping to learn more details and information about the cases, and came out satisfied and encouraged that people like Mark Pomerantz are working diligently from within our system. We can only hope for every Trump, there are five Marks and Cy Vances.
One of the things I found really fascinating about this book was the information about Alvin Bragg and his handling of the case. Learning about the lengths others went to in order to keep Trump from being prosecuted is pretty stunning and disheartening. However, it's always good to be aware of what's going on with the political leaders impacting our lives. I hope that stories like this one being brought to light can show a few things about the system:
1) The system makes space for wealthy and powerful people to evade punishment for their crimes, simply because their victims are not named, but the general community at large.
2) There are a lot of people working in the system who have no interest in justice, fairness, equality, or even-handedness. They are interested in their own power, personal interests, and protecting their image. These people should be weeded out and removed.
And 3) There are also very good people working in the system, and they should be given more opportunities to hold the powerful accountable in meaningful ways.
Overall, I think this is an important and powerful read, and I came away with a lot more information about the case and the details, and with valuable information about what the process looks like, as well as who the people are who work within our system. I would recommend for anyone looking to learn more about our current judicial system, American politics, the system of justice, and the legal cases against Donald Trump.
One of the things I found really fascinating about this book was the information about Alvin Bragg and his handling of the case. Learning about the lengths others went to in order to keep Trump from being prosecuted is pretty stunning and disheartening. However, it's always good to be aware of what's going on with the political leaders impacting our lives. I hope that stories like this one being brought to light can show a few things about the system:
1) The system makes space for wealthy and powerful people to evade punishment for their crimes, simply because their victims are not named, but the general community at large.
2) There are a lot of people working in the system who have no interest in justice, fairness, equality, or even-handedness. They are interested in their own power, personal interests, and protecting their image. These people should be weeded out and removed.
And 3) There are also very good people working in the system, and they should be given more opportunities to hold the powerful accountable in meaningful ways.
Overall, I think this is an important and powerful read, and I came away with a lot more information about the case and the details, and with valuable information about what the process looks like, as well as who the people are who work within our system. I would recommend for anyone looking to learn more about our current judicial system, American politics, the system of justice, and the legal cases against Donald Trump.
April 5, 2023
Outstanding Dissection of Prosecuting Trump
Career criminal lawyer Mark Pomerantz was a senior member of the legal team assembled by former Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance to evaluate the criminal evidence against Donald Trump under New York State law. In this account, Pomerantz summarizes the evidence and legal standards that shaped his preferred case (falsifying business records in order to commit a crime), and recounts the decision of Vance’s successor, Alvin Bragg, to essentially abandon that case.
People vs. Donald Trump is a satisfyingly detailed account of Trump’s history of inflating the value of his business assets in order to secure loans for his real estate projects. Pomerantz, a 40-year prosecutor and white collar defense attorney is an able guide to the surrounding legal and financial complexities. Pomerantz is also a clear and unabashedly blunt writer who keeps the narrative moving briskly without mincing words.
Pomerantz’s account sets the stage for the April 2023 indictment of Trump by Alvin Bragg. While Bragg’s case relies on the same legal theory advanced by Pomerantz, the facts chosen by Bragg — Trump’s falsification of records related to the Stormy Daniels payoff — relate to a federal crime (the attempt to improperly influence presidential election results) that may not meet the statutory requirements of the New York Courts. (That determination remains to be made.)
That said, Pomerantz’s preferred case might have been construed by a jury as victimless (because Trump’s lenders were repaid in full), thereby resulting in an acquittal.
It is testimony to the value of Pomerantz’s account that the reader emerges sufficiently educated to appreciate these nuances.
Career criminal lawyer Mark Pomerantz was a senior member of the legal team assembled by former Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance to evaluate the criminal evidence against Donald Trump under New York State law. In this account, Pomerantz summarizes the evidence and legal standards that shaped his preferred case (falsifying business records in order to commit a crime), and recounts the decision of Vance’s successor, Alvin Bragg, to essentially abandon that case.
People vs. Donald Trump is a satisfyingly detailed account of Trump’s history of inflating the value of his business assets in order to secure loans for his real estate projects. Pomerantz, a 40-year prosecutor and white collar defense attorney is an able guide to the surrounding legal and financial complexities. Pomerantz is also a clear and unabashedly blunt writer who keeps the narrative moving briskly without mincing words.
Pomerantz’s account sets the stage for the April 2023 indictment of Trump by Alvin Bragg. While Bragg’s case relies on the same legal theory advanced by Pomerantz, the facts chosen by Bragg — Trump’s falsification of records related to the Stormy Daniels payoff — relate to a federal crime (the attempt to improperly influence presidential election results) that may not meet the statutory requirements of the New York Courts. (That determination remains to be made.)
That said, Pomerantz’s preferred case might have been construed by a jury as victimless (because Trump’s lenders were repaid in full), thereby resulting in an acquittal.
It is testimony to the value of Pomerantz’s account that the reader emerges sufficiently educated to appreciate these nuances.
February 24, 2023
Mr. Pomerantz writes the story of his special assignment with the office of the DA of NY (DANY) to investigate former President Trump on financial crimes, a charge that DANY ultimately didn’t make during Mr. Pomerantz’s time at the office and has yet to make. What follows is Mr. Pomerantz’s personnel assessment of Trumps guilt, and the inner decision making of DANY.
To be clear, Pomerantz paints a compelling and convincing story with regard to proof of financial crime. However I think it is extremely problematic for a employee of the DA to lay and make statements of the wrong going of ANY person, if that office ultimately decides not to charge them, especially if the matter is still being considered. IF, as the author often insists, this matter would be treated equally be the subject Mr. Trump or “Joe Blow from Kokomo” would we the American people permit such public exposes of average citizens who are ultimately not charged by their office? I highly doubt it.
Equally annoying was the author’s constant complaint of the current DA’s unwillingness to embrace the author’s point of view. Pomerantz comes off sounding quite petty in the concluding chapters.
Despite the author’s statements to the contrary, it’s hard to believe that his year-plus on this case wasn’t partially driven by personal politics, animus towards Trump, or both.
Accordingly I give this book a judicious three-star rating.
To be clear, Pomerantz paints a compelling and convincing story with regard to proof of financial crime. However I think it is extremely problematic for a employee of the DA to lay and make statements of the wrong going of ANY person, if that office ultimately decides not to charge them, especially if the matter is still being considered. IF, as the author often insists, this matter would be treated equally be the subject Mr. Trump or “Joe Blow from Kokomo” would we the American people permit such public exposes of average citizens who are ultimately not charged by their office? I highly doubt it.
Equally annoying was the author’s constant complaint of the current DA’s unwillingness to embrace the author’s point of view. Pomerantz comes off sounding quite petty in the concluding chapters.
Despite the author’s statements to the contrary, it’s hard to believe that his year-plus on this case wasn’t partially driven by personal politics, animus towards Trump, or both.
Accordingly I give this book a judicious three-star rating.
April 25, 2023
I never, ever, ever have wanted to be a lawyer. However, between this and Holding the Line: Inside the Nation's Preeminent US Attorney's Office and Its Battle with the Trump Justice Department, I find myself entirely fascinated by the intricacies of our legal system. Both books were written quite well, but while Holding the Line was a series of chapter-length explorations of cases and autobiography, this was a very focused look at one potential legal proceeding and its connected case law. (In that sense, it was a bit like Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation - especially since both lawyers in these cases were frustrated with the processes.) In light of the case that Alvin Bragg just brought against Trump, this book complicates that story far more than I've read in the general media. If you are interested in knowing some of the confusing back story behind those charges, and more of the case law that could have been used, this is a well-written explanation of lots of legal theory in a way that a layperson can understand.
April 11, 2023
A book that every registered voter should read. Written in a more than fair way that was backed up with facts.
Notable quotes:
"At the end of 2020, the Corona Virus pandemic was still raging, and that meant the grand juries were not convening to hear evidence."
"I did not want to be involved in matters where all I could do was rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic."
"I don't care, I'll be dead, and the kids will have to fend for themselves," Donald Trump.
"John Adams who had observed hundreds of years earlier that we were a nation of laws and not men."
"I wore my opinions like a sandwich board."
"We seemed to be as welcome as skunks at a garden party."
"Once again, Donald Trump had managed to dance between the rain drops of accountability."
"But none of us is a perfect judge of our own critical thinking."
"Half the population might come to the believe that the earth is flat. That ought not to lead to a change in our map-making."
"In any case, our crystal ball malfunctioned."
"When it comes to Donald Trump, there are millions and millions of Americans who are still waiting for just a little piece of justice."
Vocabulary words:
deferential
detritus
hubris
rampart
morass
anathema
despondent
Notable quotes:
"At the end of 2020, the Corona Virus pandemic was still raging, and that meant the grand juries were not convening to hear evidence."
"I did not want to be involved in matters where all I could do was rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic."
"I don't care, I'll be dead, and the kids will have to fend for themselves," Donald Trump.
"John Adams who had observed hundreds of years earlier that we were a nation of laws and not men."
"I wore my opinions like a sandwich board."
"We seemed to be as welcome as skunks at a garden party."
"Once again, Donald Trump had managed to dance between the rain drops of accountability."
"But none of us is a perfect judge of our own critical thinking."
"Half the population might come to the believe that the earth is flat. That ought not to lead to a change in our map-making."
"In any case, our crystal ball malfunctioned."
"When it comes to Donald Trump, there are millions and millions of Americans who are still waiting for just a little piece of justice."
Vocabulary words:
deferential
detritus
hubris
rampart
morass
anathema
despondent
April 9, 2023
I am not an American but I do believe that their politics, and public practices, affect other countries. The "Trump Affect" has been detrimental to the political and social practices in my country which is why I wanted to read this book.
I read to chapter 3 and then skimmed to the second from last chapter.
This is a well written and in depth book. The personal opinion and emotions of the author are communicated sometimes but the author acknowledges that being human means being fallible. I appreciate authors who acknowledge that they're not perfect; in my experience those authors aren't trying to sell you anything, they're presenting their story for you to apply your own critical thinking skills to.
I tend to find books with lots of people overwhelming. I can't keep track of who and what and why, which is why I opted to skim through the book.
I felt that the author presented his reasoning clearly and I agree with his opinions that the biggest loser in this whole fiasco is the American justice system. If I didn't believe that the US justice system was biased before (of course I thought it was biased, who doesn't?), this clearly communicated that white cash is king.
I read to chapter 3 and then skimmed to the second from last chapter.
This is a well written and in depth book. The personal opinion and emotions of the author are communicated sometimes but the author acknowledges that being human means being fallible. I appreciate authors who acknowledge that they're not perfect; in my experience those authors aren't trying to sell you anything, they're presenting their story for you to apply your own critical thinking skills to.
I tend to find books with lots of people overwhelming. I can't keep track of who and what and why, which is why I opted to skim through the book.
I felt that the author presented his reasoning clearly and I agree with his opinions that the biggest loser in this whole fiasco is the American justice system. If I didn't believe that the US justice system was biased before (of course I thought it was biased, who doesn't?), this clearly communicated that white cash is king.
May 6, 2023
Excellent discourse about prosecutorial investigations, and criminal law and procedure
As a lawyer (formerly a criminal defense lawyer, appellate lawyer, and prosecutor), I appreciate and admire Mark Pomerantz’s work as an experienced trial and appellate lawyer, law professor, and U. S. Supreme Court law clerk, in private practice and tenure as federal prosecutor. Also, his superb intellect, professionalism, and clear analysis and writing in this book. I recommend lawyers, especially young ones, read this book because it is not only a damn good memoir of a former prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer, but is also a case book on how a good attorney investigates, undertakes legal research on complicated issues, and critically thinks and writes legal memoranda and pleadings. In addition to Gerry Spence’s insightful memoir, GUNNING FOR JUSTICE, Pomerantz’s PEOPLE VS. DONALD TRUMP, is a must read for trial lawyers, students considering law school, and laymen interested in the legal profession. This is an intelligent, compelling, and informative book that I hope many will read.
As a lawyer (formerly a criminal defense lawyer, appellate lawyer, and prosecutor), I appreciate and admire Mark Pomerantz’s work as an experienced trial and appellate lawyer, law professor, and U. S. Supreme Court law clerk, in private practice and tenure as federal prosecutor. Also, his superb intellect, professionalism, and clear analysis and writing in this book. I recommend lawyers, especially young ones, read this book because it is not only a damn good memoir of a former prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer, but is also a case book on how a good attorney investigates, undertakes legal research on complicated issues, and critically thinks and writes legal memoranda and pleadings. In addition to Gerry Spence’s insightful memoir, GUNNING FOR JUSTICE, Pomerantz’s PEOPLE VS. DONALD TRUMP, is a must read for trial lawyers, students considering law school, and laymen interested in the legal profession. This is an intelligent, compelling, and informative book that I hope many will read.
March 2, 2023
What an amazing book. I cannot fathom why Trump is not in jail yet. The fact that everybody at the FBI, and at Interpol were discussing the gravity of the situation, it is bewildering that even with hundreds of people taking Donald Trump to court, he is still not in jail. I hope that raising awareness about this book makes a difference. For the sake of humanity, for the sake of our great nation, we cannot afford to let Donald Trump hold public office ever again. Need I remind you that he was vaccinated against COVID-19, yet told millions of Americans not to get vaccinated and don't wear a mask. This resulted in over 600,000 DEAD AMERICANS. Do you understand what I am trying to explain to you? Donald Trump is a monster. He essentially dropped 2-3 nuclear bombs on the American population in terms of casualties. This can be described as crimes against humanity. He needs to go to jail. For a long time. It's time. There is enough evidence to finally put Donald J. Trump in jail. Let's do it. Let's get it done. Arrest Donald J. Trump.
April 24, 2023
The author does a quite credible job explaining his basis for recommending charges be brought against the former President, and provides informative and insider background to augment and offset the screaming headlines since the indictment first came down a few weeks ago. I find him to be a credible and experienced investigator whose insights are worth serious consideration, and his book does a good job of explaining his position. I find his logic and information compelling, though I am not convinced the case warrants the energy and attention the District Attorney's Office of New York has placed on it.
The author is candid about his distaste for former President Trump, and I respect him for that. Unfortunately, I couldn't escape the impression that this opinion provides much of his motivation for working so hard on the case. He denies that of course, and I am sure he believes it. But I am saddened and disappointed by what I see as a uneven application of the judicial prosecution process.
The author is candid about his distaste for former President Trump, and I respect him for that. Unfortunately, I couldn't escape the impression that this opinion provides much of his motivation for working so hard on the case. He denies that of course, and I am sure he believes it. But I am saddened and disappointed by what I see as a uneven application of the judicial prosecution process.
March 10, 2023
Highly esteemed Mark Pomerantz came out of retirement to serve pro bono as a Special Assistant DA to Cyrus Vance Jr. on NY's investigation of Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. His work led to the indictment of the Trump Organization and Allen Weisselberg, Trump's Chief Financial Officer for fraud. In this memoir the author writes of scrutinizing Trump's financial records and Mafia-boss-like business practices, and how Pomerantz gathered what he thought would be enough evidence to bring a charge to indict DJT. However, when Cyrus Vance Jr.'s term ended and Alvin Bragg and the new team took over, Bragg did not bring charges although that may still happen. Interesting discussion of money laundering, inflated valuation of Trump entities, insurance fraud, tax cheat Michael Cohen's turning and testifying, Trump's business practices, the rule of law and possible reasons Bragg did not move on bringing charges.
February 25, 2023
A quick read (obviously). Not sure what to make of this book. On one hand, thankfully, it doesn't spend any time directly dealing with the walking pile of excrement known as Donald Trump. But of course his crimes are the focus of this book. Mark Pomerantz can certainly come across as a crabby old bastard who is bitter that the District Attorney for New York County didn't take his advice and seek felony criminal charges against you-know-who for all his lying about his finances, Nonetheless, Pomerantz makes a pretty compelling case against the career criminal. Who knows if anyone will ever have the guts to hold this piece of garbage to account.
March 17, 2023
This will come as no surprise but DT has been running a criminal enterprise for years but as Pomerantz says, he's like a squirrel at the dog park always able to escape into a tree to escape approaching dogs. This book reads like an indictment of the Orange man's business practices, forever inflating inflating the value to suit the needs of bank loans and ego, but diminishing them where for purposes of taxes and insurance costs are involved. In Pomerantz view he dodged another oncoming train when the NY DA refused to bring charges on his property crimes and instead focus on the so called Zombie case with Stormy Daniels hush money payoff. But stay tuned, there's always hope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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