[ad_1]
Topline
Former President Donald Trump does not have any more of the documents subpoenaed by New York Attorney General Tish James, his lawyer said in a court filing on Tuesday, while calling the attorney general’s attempt to fine the former president $10,000 a day for failing to turn the records over “grossly excessive.”
Former President Donald Trump pauses during a speech.
Getty Images
Key Facts
Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba wrote that after “conducting a diligent search and review,” Trump’s counsel determined that he was “not in possession of any documents” subpoenaed in December by the New York Attorney General, according to the court filing.
Habba said all remaining documents were “in the possession, custody or control” of the Trump Organization.
The filing comes two weeks after James asked a judge to hold the former president in contempt and fine him $10,000 a day for refusing to comply with a subpoena in her investigation into the Trump Organization’s business practices.
The records sought by the attorney general include tax records and statements of financial condition, as well as other business documents, and were due March 31, after Trump asked for an extension.
Trump personally has turned over 10 documents to James so far, the attorney general’s office said at a court hearing last month.
James’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Chief Critic
Habba argued in the filing it was “fair to question” the attorney general’s motives for holding Trump in content, a move the former president’s lawyer called “little more than a contrived publicity stunt.”
Key Background
The New York Attorney General first launched a civil investigation into whether Trump used misleading financial statements to secure loans and avoid taxes several years ago, after Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen told lawmakers in 2019 that Trump and his company lied about the value of assets for financial gain. James in a court filing last month alleged the Trump Organization had misstated asset valuations for over a decade. Trump has denied all wrongdoing and accused James of leading a politically motivated investigation, and he sued James last year seeking to halt the probe. The Trump Organization to date has turned over 900,000 documents to the attorney general’s office, with Trump himself only providing a handful of records, according to James. The attorney general’s office wrote in a motion two weeks ago that Trump had not complied “at all” with a February court order from New York State Judge Arthur Engoron to turn over personal documents. A Trump Organization spokesperson at the time called James’ motion “completely baseless.” Engoron last month also gave the Trump Organization until April 29 to comply with James’ subpoena.
What To Watch For
A New York Supreme Court hearing to consider James’ contempt motion is set for April 25.
Further Reading
N.Y. Attorney General Asks Court To Hold Trump In Contempt, Fine Him $10,000 A Day Until He Turns Over Records (Forbes)
[ad_2]
Source link