In addition to an already underway civil investigation of former President Donald Trump’s company, New York State Attorney General, Letitia James office’ is now also probing the Trump Organization “in a criminal capacity” as well, her spokesman said Tuesday night.
James’ spokesman implied that her probe is being done in conjunction with the ongoing criminal investigation of Trump and the Trump Organization by the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.
The two-year-old civil investigation was focusing on allegations that the Trump Organization had manipulated the stated value of real estate assets in order to lower their tax liability and to receive more favorable terms for loans and insurance.
Vance’s office has been criminally investigating those same allegations, which first were made in congressional testimony by Michael Cohen, who served for years as Trump’s personal lawyer.
“We have informed the Trump Organization that our investigation into the organization is no longer purely civil in nature,” said James’ spokesman, Fabien Levy.
“We are now actively investigating the Trump Organization in a criminal capacity, along with the Manhattan DA. We have no additional comment at this time.”
Levy said.
The Republic, Trump, previously has called both investigations witch hunts by two Democratic officials.
Last August, James filed an ultimately successful court action that forced Trump’s son, Eric Trump, to answer questions as part of her investigation.
The long-time chief financial officer of the Trump Organization Allen Weisselberg was also deposed by the AG’s investigators.
The properties being eyed on are Seven Springs Estate, a 212-acre property in Westchester County, New York among other real estate holdings.
In 2019, the Financial Times newspaper noted that Trump had purchased Seven Springs for $7.5 million in 1996, but valued it at more than $290 million in 2012.
In 2014, Forbes magazine estimated the property at the worth of less than $19.5 million. James’ office also is investigating the valuations of the Trump building at 40 Wall St. in Manhattan, the Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago, and the Trump National Golf Club – Los Angeles.
“Nothing will stop us from following the facts and the law, wherever they may lead.”
In a statement issued in August, James said.
