Trump’s statements in old lawsuit could haunt him in future cases

Donald Trump once said he calculated his net worth, to a degree, on his “feelings,“ and that he put the “best spin“ on some of the assets. “I think everybody“ exaggerates about the value of their properties. “Who wouldn’t?“ Did he inflate values? “Not beyond reason,“ Trump said, insisting he gave his “opinion“ to a key associate and “ultimately“ let that person make the decision, according to an exchange in a 2007 deposition. The exchange takes on fresh meaning this spring as Manhattan prosecutors investigate whether Trump’s “best spin“ was common practice in local real estate circles -- or if he crossed the line into illegal activity. The answer could determine whether Trump ends up facing criminal charges. The public record already sheds lots of light on how Trump has run the Trump Organization. A CNN examination of sworn depositions, interviews with former employees, and published accounts shows that Trum