Trump has sued NY attorney general for blocking his business investigation | Donald Trump News

NY Attorney General Letitia James began an investigation in 2019 into whether the Trump company was manipulating the value of key assets for tax and insurance purposes.

Former President Donald Trump has sued New York Attorney General Letitia James, saying the Democrat’s lengthy investigation into his extensive real estate business is being conducted solely for political gain.

The state investigation is a “baseless” and “malicious” fishing expedition that is prosecuting Trump and violating his constitutional rights, according to a lawsuit filed in New York’s Albany Federal Court on Monday. James wanted to oust Trump on January 7 as part of a two-year investigation, according to a person familiar with the matter.

“Over the years, he has made significant use of his investigative powers to target his political opponents and advance his career,” Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, said in the complaint. “The relentless attacks on Donald J. Trump are a great example.”

James, who suspended his candidacy for governor of New York earlier this month, began an investigation in 2019 into whether Trump’s Manhattan-based company had manipulated the value of key assets for tax and insurance. Since then, the company has been fighting legal lawsuits over compliance with state subpoenas.

James did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

The lawsuit includes pages describing Trump’s political motivations for investigating him, including a tweet he posted in August 2018 before taking office, saying Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, had asked for a deal.

“You and your friends are not above the law. We’re getting closer to justice every day, ”James said in a tweet. “Wait until you are in the Attorney General’s office.”

Eric Trump, one of the sons of the former president and an executive vice president of the Trump Institution, was removed from office by state investigators in October 2020 after fighting to delay interrogation in court.

In July, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., in collaboration with James, charged the Trump Organization and its longtime chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg with numerous offenses related to tax-free benefits received by executives, including the use of luxury cars. and apartments. Weisselberg and company have denied any wrongdoing.

The Trump Organization has long argued that research is politically motivated. In May, Trump issued a statement accusing James and Vance of “taking possession of President Donald J. Trump’s political fortunes at an unprecedented level.”

One of the main focuses of James’ research has been the valuation of a 212-acre estate in Seven Springs, Westchester County, New York. His office has tried to determine whether the company provided a detailed valuation of the property when it relied on tax deductions of about $ 21.1 million for its 2015 tax conservation service.

Trump’s 40 Wall Street skyscrapers and his Chicago hotel are among the other assets being investigated by the Attorney General, including Manhattan District Attorneys in conjunction with an extensive investigation into possible bank, mortgage and possible tax fraud.