New York attorney general files lawsuit against Trump for fraud
New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump for fraud. The suit names Trump, the Trump Organization, and three of Trump's children — Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump — and claims they have fraudulently overvalued their assets by billions of dollars. The suit is the result of James' years-long investigation into Trump's real estate dealings, Bloomberg reports, and the formal complaint states that the fraudulent activities were "approved at the highest levels of the Trump Organization — including by Mr. Trump himself."
The latest development comes just a week after James refused to settle with Trump's lawyers, The New York Times reports. The former president has continued to deny wrongdoing, accusing James of being politically motivated, CNBC reports.
James' lawsuit seeks $250 million in disgorgement from the defendants as well as to bar the Trump Organization from engaging in New York commercial real estate acquisitions for five years. Trump and his children would also not be allowed to serve as any corporate officers or directors in the state.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The suit filed is a civil suit; however, criminal charges may come out of it as well. James has filed a criminal referral to federal prosecutors and a separate tax fraud referral to the IRS along with the lawsuit, Politico reports.
The former president has faced many legal struggles, including his Mar-a-Lago property being searched by the FBI and his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection being investigated by a House select committee.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
Assad's future life in exile
The Explainer What lies ahead for the former Syrian dictator, now he's fled to Russia?
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
The best panettones for Christmas
The Week Recommends Supermarkets are embracing novel flavour combinations as sales of the festive Italian sweet bread soar
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Kelly Cates to present Match of the Day
Speed Read Sky Sports presenter to take over from Gary Lineker at start of next season
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Judge blocks Louisiana 10 Commandments law
Speed Read U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled that a law ordering schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge reopens Trump challenge in secrets case
Speed Read Aileen Cannon continues to delay and complicate the classified documents case
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
ATF finalizes rule to close 'gun show loophole'
Speed Read Biden moves to expand background checks for gun buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hong Kong passes tough new security law
Speed Read It will allow the government to further suppress all forms of dissent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
France enshrines abortion rights in constitution
speed read It became the first country to make abortion a constitutional right
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Texas executes man despite contested evidence
Speed Read Texas rejected calls for a rehearing of Ivan Cantu's case amid recanted testimony and allegations of suppressed exculpatory evidence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court wary of state social media regulations
Speed Read A majority of justices appeared skeptical that Texas and Florida were lawfully protecting the free speech rights of users
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Greece legalizes same-sex marriage
Speed Read Greece becomes the first Orthodox Christian country to enshrine marriage equality in law
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published