New York Attorney General Letitia James claims her office has found “significant evidence” of fraud within the Trump Organization and is asking a court to force Donald Trump and two of his children to testify under oath.
“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,” the A.G. announced in a tweet on Tuesday (Jan. 18).
In her court filing, James said Trump, his son Donald Trump Jr. and his daughter Ivanka Trump “have ignored lawfully issued subpoenas for sworn testimony because of what they contend is ‘an unprecedented and unconstitutional maneuver’” by her office. However, James says that requesting the Trumps’ testimonies is “routine in complex financial investigations” and “amply warranted.”
“This game must end,” James‘ office added in its filing.
As reported by REVOLT, the A.G. first subpoenaed Donald Jr. and Ivanka for her office’s fraud investigation earlier this month. However, ABC News reported that they refused to testify.
James also subpoenaed Trump, giving him a deadline to testify in the matter by Jan. 7. The financial fraud investigation into the Trump Organization began over two years ago and yielded criminal charges against chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg and two related corporate entities last year. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
On Wednesday (Jan. 19), the Trump Organization responded to James’ claims and accused the A.G. of “misleading the public.”
“She defrauded New Yorkers by basing her entire candidacy on a promise to get Trump at all costs without having seen a shred of evidence and in violation of every conceivable ethical rule,” a statement from the company read. “Three years later she is now faced with the stark reality that she has no case. So, in response to Trump suing her and filing multiple ethical complaints, and on the heels of her failed governor’s race, she has no choice but to mislead the public yet again by misrepresenting the facts and ignoring her own inflammatory comments. Her allegations are baseless and will be vigorously defended.”