Donald Trump must participate Wednesday in a hearing under oath in New York as part of the civil investigation into suspicions of financial fraud within the Trump Organization, announced the ex-president on his social network. “In New York tonight. I see the racist New York Attorney General tomorrow for the prosecution of the greatest witch hunt in the history of the United States,” the Republican said Tuesday on his Truth Social platform.
Investigation opened in March 2019
“My wonderful business and I are under attack from all sides,” he added. The former president’s hearing by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is African-American, was originally set for July 15 but was postponed after the death of Donald Trump’s first wife, Ivana. .
The billionaire and two of his children who have responsibilities within the group, Donald Jr and Ivanka, were forced to testify under oath by a judge of the Supreme Court of New York after a long legal tussle with Ms James who has made this file one of its priorities.
The investigation had been launched in March 2019 after the explosive testimony in the United States Congress of one of Donald Trump’s former personal lawyers, Michael Cohen, alleging fraudulent appraisals, up or down, of assets within from the Trump Organization, to obtain loans, obtain tax reductions or better insurance compensation.
A “political witch hunt”, according to Trump’s lawyers
In January, Letitia James assured that she had “brought to light important evidence which suggests that Donald Trump and the Trump Organization have falsely and fraudulently valued a number of assets”, in particular golf courses or the personal triplex of the American billionaire, located in the Trump Tower in New York. Suspicions refuted by Donald Trump’s lawyers, for whom Letitia James, a Democrat, is leading a political “witch hunt”.
The Attorney General does not have the power to indict Donald Trump but she can initiate civil proceedings and in particular claim financial damages. The alleged facts are also the subject of an investigation, criminal this time, led by Manhattan prosecutor Alvin Bragg.
This hearing comes two days after a spectacular search of Donald Trump’s home in Florida by the FBI.
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