[vundercind]

He knew.

Circuit judges, DAs, all kinds of folks lower on the ladder than him could tell you unequivocally they are. Far less counts.

Anyone in corporate America who’s done anti-corruption training could tell you. Millions and millions of people.

He had a staff he could ask to check for him if he were actually uncertain (and there’s zero chance he was sure they weren’t gifts). A staff he doesn’t even pay for. If he wasn’t sure and didn’t do that, guess what? He really knew the answer.

He didn’t “believe” they weren’t gifts.