Topline
Former President Donald Trump arrived in Manhattan just after midnight Thursday ahead of his deposition in the New York Attorney General’s probe into his business practices, he said in a series of Truth Social posts in which he continues his attempt to capitalize on the various law enforcement investigations against him.
Former President Donald Trump, left, gestures as he leaves Trump Tower in New York, Thursday, April … [+]
Key Facts
New York Attorney General Letitia James will question Trump about his business practices as part of the $250 million lawsuit her office filed against him in September alleging he and his children inflated the value of Trump Organization assets in a bid to secure more favorable loans.
Trump accused James of being a “racist, Trump-hating” AG who “leaked” that he would arrive at her downtown Manhattan offices at 9:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump, who was in Manhattan last week to plead not guilty in a separate case brought by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, coined the nickname “Peakaboo James” for the state’s top prosecutor and said the case will allow him “to show what a great, profitable, and valuable company I built,” while predicting the allegations will be proven “fake and even fraudulent.”
Trump exercised his Fifth Amendment rights in refusing to answer hundreds of prosecutors’ questions when he sat for a deposition before James’ office in August.
Crucial Quote
“I built a GREAT & prosperous company, employed thousands of people, built magnificent structures all over the World, but particularly in New York, & now have to prove it to this LOWLIFE who campaigned on a ‘I will get Trump’ platform, even before knowing anything about me!” Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social, referring to statements James made during her 2018 campaign about her intentions to investigate Trump.
Key Background
The investigation into Trump’s business practices began in 2019 under former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance and continued when Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg took over the office at the beginning of last year. James, who campaigned on promises to investigate Trump, filed a suit in September against Trump and several of his employees, including his children Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. The suit accuses the Trump Organization of “repeated and persistent” fraud and is seeking to ban him and his children from heading any companies in the state in the future. James’ office argues the company made “more than 200 false and misleading valuations of assets” over the course of 10 years to “injustly enrich himself.” In a separate case brought by Bragg’s office, the Trump Organization was convicted of tax fraud in December and ordered to pay $1.6 million in fines after a judge found the organization guilty of paying its executives in gifts to evade taxes.
Tangent
Trump—after pleading not guilty last week to 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a broad hush-money scheme Bragg’s office says he executed to cover up three affair allegations—has sought to rally his voters by casting the various law enforcement investigations against him as politically motivated “witch hunts.” Republicans, including several of his potential GOP competitors for the party’s 2024 presidential nomination, have echoed his claims that the investigations are designed to hurt his chances of being re-elected president next year. The Manhattan District Attorney has repeatedly fired back against the allegations and on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, accusing the panel of overstepping its authority in its investigation into the case.
Surprising Fact
James’ office alleged that Trump overstated the value of more than 20 properties and assets he owns, including his palm beach private club and residence, Mar-A-Lago, along with his penthouse at Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan. Forbes revealed in 2017 that Trump tripled the size of his 11,000-square-foot penthouse and reporter Chase Peterson-Withorn, who interviewed Trump and toured the apartment, was subpoenaed in the AG’s case about his findings.
What To Watch For
The New York Attorney General’s case is slated to go to trial in October. Trump’s legal team has requested the trial in the Manhattan District Attorney’s case take place in the spring, but prosecutors are pushing for a January date. Trump is also facing Justice Department probes into his handling of classified documents he brought to Mar-A-Lago after leaving office and his role in the January 6 Capitol riots. A fifth investigation, by the Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney’s office, centers on his role in efforts to overturn the election results in the state.
Further Reading
NY AG James Sues Trump For Fraud (Forbes)
Donald Trump Has Been Lying About The Size Of His Penthouse (Forbes)
Trump Pleads Not Guilty To 34 Counts Of Falsifying Business Records (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/04/13/trump-back-in-manhattan-for-deposition-in-another-investigation-heres-what-to-know/