NEW YORK – The Trump Organisation is being investigated in a “criminal capacity” by the New York attorney-general’s office, said a spokesman yesterday, as prosecutors advance their probe into former president Donald Trump’s business dealings.
“We have informed the Trump Organisation that our investigation into the organisation is no longer purely civil in nature,” said Fabien Levy, spokesman for Attorney-General Letitia James’ office.
“We are now actively investigating the Trump Organisation in a criminal capacity, along with the Manhattan DA (district attorney).”
The organisation is the holding company of hundreds of Trump entities, ranging from hotels to golf courses.
Trump, who left the White House in January, denies wrongdoing, and has previously described the investigation into his finances by Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance, a Democrat, as “a continuation of the greatest political witch-hunt in the history of our country”.
James’ office has also been investigating allegations of bank and insurance fraud through civil proceedings.
Bolstering its legal team, the Trump Organisation early last month hired a veteran criminal defence lawyer, 84-year-old Ronald Fischetti.
The district attorney’s probe initially focused on hush payments made to two women, who alleged they had affairs with Trump, but has expanded to include claims of tax evasion, and insurance and bank fraud.
That investigation is being carried out behind closed doors in front of a grand jury. It appeared to be progressing, with Vance’s team receiving eight years of Trump’s tax returns in March.
Six months after losing the United States presidential election, millions of Republicans still look to Trump as their leader, despite his repeated baseless claims that Joe Biden prevailed because of fraud. – AFP, May 19, 2021
