New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) said the investigation into the Trump Organization suggests the former president’s company “used fraudulent and misleading asset valuations.”
“We are taking legal action to force Donald Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., and Ivanka Trump to comply with our investigation into the Trump Organization’s financial dealings. No one in this country can pick and choose if and how the law applies to them,” James said in a statement.
She added, “We have uncovered significant evidence indicating that the Trump Organization used fraudulent and misleading asset valuations on multiple properties to obtain economic benefits, including loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions for years.”
We have uncovered significant evidence indicating that the Trump Organization used fraudulent and misleading asset valuations on multiple properties to obtain economic benefits, including loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions for years.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) January 19, 2022
Her statement continues, “Donald Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., and Ivanka Trump have all been closely involved in the transactions in question, so we won’t tolerate their attempts to evade testifying in this investigation.”
James explained her office “will not be deterred in our efforts to continue this investigation, uncover the facts, and pursue justice, no matter how many roadblocks Mr. Trump and his family throw in our way.”
We will not be deterred in our efforts to continue this investigation, uncover the facts, and pursue justice, no matter how many roadblocks Mr. Trump and his family throw in our way.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) January 19, 2022
No one is above the law.
According to her office, James took legal action to force the former president, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump to appear for sworn testimony as part of the civil investigation.
“As the papers filed today make clear, each of the individuals was directly involved in one or more transactions under review. Earlier this month, the Trumps filed a motion to quash these interviews, and the papers filed today by the Attorney General oppose that motion,” her office said in a statement.
CNN’s Kara Scannell reported James’ office identified “misleading statements and omissions” in the Trump Organization’s financial statements provided to lenders and insurers.
New York AG Letitia James' office says it has identified numerous "misleading statements and omissions" in the Trump Organization's financial statements, and it needs testimony from the Trump and two of his adult children. @KaraScannell has the latest. https://t.co/C0HY34tgn2 pic.twitter.com/eNzYNW12GD
— CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) January 19, 2022
She continued, “As part of this they say that these statements have covered kind of the gamut across the number of properties, including golf courses in Scotland and Los Angeles, including Trump Tower, including the former president’s own penthouse.”
Scannell noted the statements also include “commercial buildings and the family’s compound in Westchester known as the Seven Springs.”
She pointed out when Eric Trump and Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg testified, “They both asserted the Fifth Amendment and did not answer more than 500 questions each,” citing James’ office.