He argued it was a gift.

And I want to be honest about how strong that argument was, because for about four months I thought it was a joke and it is not a joke and it very nearly worked.

Here is the shape of it, and it is entirely respectable.

Evelyn Vance voluntarily sold property she owned.

She was not asked.

She has testified under oath that her husband said, in terms, no.

She transferred the entire proceeds to him with no note, no promissory instrument, no memorandum, no repayment schedule, no interest rate, no security, no discussion of repayment then or at any time in the following seventeen years.