New York State prosecutors are filing a civil lawsuit against former US President Donald Trump for fraud. Charges will also be brought against Trump’s company and his sons Donald Junior, Eric and Ivanka, Attorney General Letitia James announced in New York on Wednesday. Defendants reportedly increased or decreased their finances as needed to get loans more easily or pay less taxes.
three-year investigation
“Donald Trump falsely inflated his fortune into billions of dollars to unfairly enrich himself and deceive the system – and, by extension, all of us,” James said. She led civil investigations into Trump’s corporate empire for three years and, according to Wednesday, spoke to 65 prosecution witnesses and reviewed “millions of documents”. Trump’s company denies the allegations.
In the United States, attorneys general generally belong to one party and are elected by the people in many states. James is a member of the Democratic Party and serves in the government of the state of New York. Trump, who belongs to the Republican Party, has repeatedly described the process as politically motivated and called it a “witch hunt”.
Claims in many cases
There are charges against the 76-year-old man in many cases. Among other things, the FBI is said to have secured confidential and secret documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. In the state of Georgia, he allegedly unlawfully pressured the electoral commission to show him additional votes in the 2020 election. A commission of inquiry is also investigating his role in the January 6, 2021 capitol raid and may recommend prosecuting him.
Trump has repeatedly indicated that he wants to run for president again in 2024, but has yet to officially announce it. Experts believe that one of the often multi-year proceedings with opportunities for review and renegotiation before the November 2024 election is unlikely to lead to a conviction.