New York (AP) — A lawyer in the Attorney General of New York’s office said Friday that he was “nearing the end” of a three-year investigation into former President Donald Trump and his business practices.
Andrew Amer made a disclosure at the hearing of the federal proceedings Trump, which Attorney General Letitia James has filed with the aim of ending her investigation. His lawyer claimed that the investigation was a politically motivated fishing expedition.
Trump is seeking a preliminary injunction to suspend the investigation. James says Trump’s company, The Trump Organization, has revealed evidence that it has misunderstood the value of assets such as skyscrapers and golf courses in its financial statements for over a decade.
James asked the judge to dismiss Trump’s proceedings.
US District Judge Brenda Sannes said he would consider both issues and make a written decision. She listened to the discussion on the video for about an hour. She didn’t schedule a decision.
Trump’s lawyer, Alina Haba, alleged that Democratic James campaigned as an adversary to Trump in 2018, harassing the former Republican president and his company with countless subpoenas and evidence requests as Attorney General. ..
“We have created millions, millions, millions of pages,” Haba told Sannes. “We continue to receive subpoenas. They continue to look for things. If they can’t find it, they look again.”
James’ special proceedings adviser, Amel, argued that the state judge, who oversees the court battle over the subpoena issued by the Attorney General’s office, determined that there was “sufficient grounds to continue the investigation.” ..
The discovery, coupled with the evidence revealed so far, “really closes the door to any debate,” said Trump’s lawyer, who said the office was being maliciously advanced.
Haba also had problems with the way investigations and state courts vie for subpoenas over Trump’s business records and testimony.
James’s office says, “Tie someone else’s hand behind you and say we’re going to attack you. If we choose to attack, you can protect yourself. But you can’t attack. I can’t file a motion to dismiss.
“We are sitting hand in hand. At this point, we are just dodging the subpoena,” Haba said.
Trump’s lawyer could be used by James in a parallel criminal investigation conducted by Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, and also a Democrat, to access information using her civil investigation. Claims to be.
Since it is civil in nature, James’ investigation decides to file a proceeding, seek financial penalties against Trump or his company, or even ban him from engaging in certain types of business. There is a possibility.
The Attorney General’s office and Trump’s lawyers have made several agreements to extend the deadline for potential decisions, which they have submitted to a court “for their mutual benefit and benefit.”
One agreement posted to the state court Dockett set a deadline of 30 April, but Haba said Trump’s lawyer recently agreed to another extension.
Trump is also suing two recent decisions by a state judge to handle the issue of investigation-related subpoenas, which could further delay the end of the investigation.
On Wednesday, the State Court of Appeals heard the debate as Trump tried to overturn Judge Arthur Engoron’s February 17 ruling, which demanded that James answer questions under an oath in his investigation.
Mr. Trump has also accused Engoron of detaining him for contempt of court on April 25 and fined him $ 10,000 a day for slow response to subpoenas of documents and other evidence. increase. Oral arguments in that case are not expected until autumn.
Engoron will pay $ 110,000 for Trump’s accumulated fines so far on Wednesday, submit documents detailing his efforts to retrieve subpoena records, and hold documents for him and his company. I have agreed to lift the discovery of contempt for meeting conditions such as explaining the policy.