Letitia James, New York Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against former President of the United States, Donald Trump, the Trump Organization, three of his children, and others over alleged fraud.
In a 200-page lawsuit, James alleged that the fraud included aspects of the Trump family business, including the golf courses and other Trump properties. The lawsuit also alleged that the Trump organization deceived its clients, insurers, tax officials, and lenders included, by calculatedly inflating and manipulating the value of his properties.
“These acts of fraud and misrepresentation were similar in nature, were committed by upper management at the Trump Organization as part of a common endeavor for each annual Statement, and were approved at the highest levels of the Trump Organization—including by Mr. Trump himself,” a portion of the suit by James’ office stated.
Allen Weisselberg, the former CFO for the Trump Organization pleaded guilty in August to tax fraud charges. The authorities offered him a plea deal, on the condition that he will testify against Donald Trump’s real estate company in an upcoming trial.
Trump’s children, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump were also named as defendants in the suit.
James’ lawsuit looks to get around $250 million in disgorgement from the defendants while asking that the Trump Organization be prevented from joining any real estate acquisitions in New York for five years.
Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba has dismissed the lawsuit, saying that it was motivated by politics.
“Today’s filing is neither focused on the facts nor the law—rather, it is solely focused on advancing the Attorney General’s political agenda, It is abundantly clear that the Attorney General’s Office has exceeded its statutory authority by prying into transactions where absolutely no wrongdoing has taken place,” she told the news.
She also said that the unchecked abuse of authority will be shot down and that she looked forward to defending her client against each and every one of the Attorney General’s meritless claims.”
